Photography in Brussels and Antwerp, a one-day exhibition in Ghent, a music festival in Werchter, and more. See you there!
Last days to see: Mark Steinmetz at Box Galerie
Closes on Saturday, 5 July Brussels
If you haven’t checked out “À la Croisée des Chemins” at Brussels’ Box Galerie yet, then this week is your last chance to do so. The mesmerizing exhibition unites a selection of works by American photographer Mark Steinmetz whose black-and-white images intimately illustrate his immediate surroundings in Georgia and the American South. A brilliant observer of American life, his photographs are troubling, beautiful, dreamy and powerful all at the same time. “I think my psyche is just wired a certain way and that I’m pretty much helpless to photograph things the way I do. It’s my nature. (…) I love the South for the weeds growing through the cracks of its sidewalks, for its humidity and for its chaos”, he recently told Ahorn Magazine. This is Steinmetz’s first solo exhibition in Belgium.
Group exhibition: Private Collection #2 at Galerie Tatjana Pieters
Runs until 24 August Ghent
For the second time now Ghent’s Tatjana Pieters Gallery presents an exhibition based on a private collection, giving insight into the mind of the artwork owner and the process of collecting. Each show is curated by an artist whose work is part of the collection and this time it’s the turn of Toronto-based Derek Sullivan who has a special interest in modernist design, minimal and conceptual art and abstract painting. The exhibition includes historical as well as contemporary works by international and Belgian artists featuring works by Marcel Broodthaers, Pieterjan Ginckels, Bernd Lohaus, Ann Veronica Janssens, Bruce Nauman and many others.
Last days to see: Anton Corbijn & Jan De Maesschalck at Zeno X Gallery
Closes on Saturday, 5 July Antwerp
Until this coming Saturday you still have the chance to discover two fascinating solo exhibitions at Antwerp’s Zeno X Gallery. “New Squares” showcases the works of Dutch photographer Anton Corbijn, presenting a selection of powerful portraits of artists and musicians, which have never been exhibited before. Corbijn also works has a filmmaker. “Control”, the movie about the life of Joy Divison’s Ian Curtis, is probably his most remarkable piece. “The Distance” unites the captivating, figurative paintings of Belgian artist Jan De Maesschalck, whose artworks are inspired by the visual material he finds while researching newspapers, magazines and the internet.
Musical festival: Rock Werchter
From 3 to 6 July Werchter
While Belgium’s concert venues have closed down for the summer, the festival season is in full swing. This week it’s time again for the legendary Rock Werchter, one of Europe’s biggest festival which even got endorsed by British music bible NME. It’s already won the Arthur Award for best festival four times, and rightly so. Some of this year’s highlights include White Lies, Warpaint, Bombay Bicycle Club, The Wombats, Eels, Arctic Monkeys, Midlake, Tune Yards, Pearl Jam, Moderat, Metronomy, Foals, MGMT and Interpol.
Outdoor party: Forest Fever opening at Abbaye de Forest
Sunday, 6 July, 14h00-23h00 Brussels
For the summer season a number of creative Belgian minds have thought up quite a few special concepts to make the best of sunny Sundays. One of them is Forest Fever, born from a collaboration of our beloved Catclub and Libertine Supersport. The very first edition takes place this Sunday at the lovely Abbaye de Forest, offering everything from music and food (bring your own meat for the barbecue) to badminton and volleyball. Behind the decks: Massimiliano Pagliara and Christopher Rau from Berlin as well as homegrown Fais Le Beau and Thibault Thf who also shot this week’s lovely cover photo you can see above.
One-day exhibition: SECONDroom at DOK
Sunday, 6 July Ghent
Ghent’s DOK located on the shores of the city’s river is undoubtedly one of the nicest places to hang out in the summer months. The site includes everything from a restaurant and a concert venue to a beach volleyball field and even an art gallery. Every Sunday the gallery run by SECONDroom, an exhibition project that has already made a name for itself in both Antwerp and Brussels, presents the works of another artist – just for one day. Next up is a short movie by Wout Lievens who graduated from KASK in 2012 and mostly works with video and sound.
Last days to see: Max Regenberg at Fondation A Stichting
Closes on Sunday, 6 July Brussels
Fondation A Stichting, located on the site of the former Bata factories in Brussels, has dedicated itself to promoting the art of photography in all its forms. Currently on show are the works of German-born, Cologne-based photographer Max Regenberg, who has especially made a name for himself with his series of billboards in public spaces. “Fair use” closes this Sunday.
Sunday party: Salon Océan
Sunday, 6 July, 14h00-23h00 Brussels
Who is looking for something a bit more intimate than the big Forest Fever summer bash we mentioned earlier should give Salon Océan a try, another creative concept aiming at pimping up this summer’s sunny Sundays. Located in a former laundromat, you’ll get all the necessary ingredients for a relaxed afternoon ranging from fresh beer to yummy punch and food. In the evening hours the atmosphere will get heated up a bit with Taret, Take me on a podcast, Ben Silk and Tzii behind the decks.
