What’s on in Belgium this week: music in Brussels, urban art in Charleroi, and so much more. See you there!
Concerts: Black Lips and Real Estate at Botanique
Tuesday, 3 June, 19h00 Brussels
Unfortunately you’ll be forced to make a choice: these two fantastic bands both play at the same time at Brussels’ Botanique this Tuesday. While American rock outfit Black Lips, who just released their seventh record “Underneath the Rainbow” will make you sweat with their energetic, dancy guitar tunes, indie pop band Real Estate lures you in with a warmer, softer sound. Their latest effort “Atlas”, a hit with critics and fans alike, is definitely one of 2014’s best releases so far.
Opening: The Stanley Parable group show at Elaine Levy Project
Thursday, 5 June, 18h00 Brussels
Elaine Levy Project, a gallery nestled into Brussels’ lovely Chatelain neighbourhood, has a knack for young and emerging artists. This Thursday sees the opening of an eclectic group show named after cult video game “The Stanley Parable”, standing out for its narrative-driven, experimental approach. The exhibition uniting talents from Belgium and abroad features artworks by Alisa Baremboym, Rachel De Joode, Bea Fremderman, Valérian Goalec, Sean Raspet and Hugo Scibetta.
Opening: Light/Object/Colour at Super Dakota
Thursday, 5 June, 18h00-22h00 Brussels
If you’re in the mood for gallery hopping: on the same evening there’s an opening at Super Dakota, just a few minutes away and one of the newer kids on the block. On show is a group exhibition centered on the theme of light, each artist exploring it in its very own way. Including the colorful, mesmerizing works of Belgian photographer Sébastien Bonin and works by Brooklyn-based artist Ryan Lauderdale, British-born Ella McCartney and others.
After work drinks: Clitclap and Traphouse at Urban Outfitters
Thursday, 5 June, 18h00-22h00 Brussels
Feel like shopping with a free drink in your hand and some good tunes in the background? This Thursday you can do so at Brussels’ Urban Outfitters branch where Antwerp’s Clitclap team and Brussels party collective Traphouse host a fashion meets music bash with DJs Nast nag, Bear Trills, Boa and Bringhim.
Opening: Laure Prouvost at MOTINTERNATIONAL
Thursday, 5 June, 18h00 Brussels
Brussels’ MOTINTERNATIONAL, located just next to Place Sablon, has a special treat in store for all art lovers: this Thursday sees the opening of “The Meeting”, the very first solo exhibition of Turner Prize winner Laure Prouvost. The artist from Lille attained the internationally reputed art award in 2013 and is known for her unconventional, multi-disciplinary approach including richly layered stories and surreal elements blurring the lines between fiction and reality. Accordingly, the show presents a combination of paintings, videos, sound installations and more.
Opening: Luo Mingjun and Kate Waters at Aeroplastics
Thursday, 5 June, 18h00-21h00 Brussels
Kate Waters
A must for painting fans: opening this Thursday at Brussels’ Aeroplastics is a duo exhibition featuring the works of two remarkable female painters: Chinese Luo Mingjun and Canadian Kate Waters. While Waters’ captivating, energetic works are vividly coloured, Mingjun’s paintings and drawings have a softer note to them, focusing on white, grey and black tonalities. Both artists play with painting’s classical codes and favor a certain photographic aesthetic.
Urban art biennal: Asphalte #1
From 7 June to 26 October Charleroi
Charleroi has much more to offer than a low-cost airport and heavy industry. Its photography museum as well as a number of fresh local art initiatives have been trying to put it on the map culturally, Asphalte #1 being one of them. The brand new art festival initiated by Hainaut art space BPS22 and curated by Raphael Cruyt as well as Alice Gallery’s Alice van den Abeele brings together Belgian and international urban artists including Boris Tellegen (featured in our Best of Art Brussels 2013 list), Sozyone Gonzalez, celebrated American street artist Steve Powers known for his colorful wall paintings and this Kurt Vile album cover, the guy behind the infamous Invader and many others. Their in situ artworks occupy more than 13 at times monumental spaces spread throughout the Belgian city. The opening takes place this Saturday at the festival headquarters followed by a guided tour and an after party with Belgian band Oscar & The Wolf at the city’s major concert venue, the Rockerill. Discover the full programme here!
Indie party: Save the date at Stockholm S.
Saturday, 7 June, 23h00 Antwerp
Indie rock fans rejoice: with “Save the date” Belgium’s underrepresented indie party scene gets another much-needed addition! Hosted in the cool Antwerp venue Stockholm S., the night promises to keep you on the dancefloor till the early morning hours with the perfect blend of cult classics and new releases featuring The Strokes, Arcade Fire, The Smiths and many more. Behind the decks: Brett Summers, one of Belgium’s most well-known indie rock DJs as well as Lucifer’s crew whom you might already know from Hindu Nights.
Music meets photography: Rankin and Recorders at A Galerie
Saturday, 7 June, 19h00-22h00 Brussels
If you haven’t already seen A Galerie’s solo exhibition of celebrated British photographer Rankin, this Saturday is the perfect occasion to do so. Rankin, mainly known for his celebrity portraits and fashion images, will be present himself while rising Belgian band Recorders provides the musical background with a very special set, giving its indie pop tunes a more acoustic and at the same time electronic twist.
Last days to see: Paulien Oltheten and Aukje Koks at Croxhapox
Closes on Sunday, 8 June Ghent
Until Sunday you can still discover the captivating works of Dutch artist Paulien Oltheten at Ghent’s Croxhapox, an independent art space focusing on emerging art. “I explore the vagaries of human relations in public space. In an ongoing process that oscillates between video, photography, text and drawings, I record, track, and assemble visual and conceptual patterns in the encounter of people and things, revealing the shifts and ruptures between them”, says the artist. Also on show: former Wiels resident Aukje Koks, who works on the subtle intersection between illusion and reality.