8 things to do in Belgium this week, from exhibitions and concerts to nights out, in Ghent, Antwerp, Liège, and Bruges. See you there!

Exhibition: Harold Ancart, Michel François & Gabriel Kuri at La Comète

Until 28 October Liège

Liège’s La Comète, a former cinema, currently presents a large-scale installation by three different artists whose works enter in an interesting conversation with each other. The show includes works by New York-based rising Belgian art star Harold Ancart, Mexico-born but Brussels-based artist Gabriel Kuri, and renowned Belgian conceptual artist Michel Francois. An interesting presentation that was especially thought up for this specific space.

Shopping: Fashion Sales at MAD

20 and 21 October Brussels

As every year, this is a must for fashionistas and everyone interested in creations made in Belgium: during two days Brussels’ MAD invites you to (re)discover Belgian fashion designers from Annemie Verbeke and David Szeto to Gioia Seghers and Roxane Baines. Make some space in your wardrobes – everything’s on sale!

Exhibitions: Four openings at SMAK

Friday, 20 October, 20h00 Ghent

If you don’t have much time for gallery hopping this week, here’s the one art event you really should make room for in your agenda: this Friday at Ghent’s SMAK you’re getting four exhibition openings in one. While they’re all worth a visit, one of them is a total smasher: SMAK is putting on a show presenting the works of celebrated German artist Gerhard Richter – his first museum exhibition in Belgium since 1976.

Concert: Wild Shelter at Flamingo

Friday, 19 October Brussels

A while ago we interviewed newbies Wild Shelter about their very first steps in the Belgian music scene. In the meantime, the group around two Brussels brothers has released their debut album, surfed the Belgian radio waves and played shows at Botanique or the Brussels Summer Festival. If you haven’t seen them fire up the stage yet, then you can do so this Friday at Flamingo.

Night out I: Spek at Club Vaag

Saturday, 20 October, 23h00 Antwerp

Since its beginnings Spek wants to offer an alternative to the anonymous standard soirées. Emerged out of a closed Facebook group it holds the family spirit high. Although originally a gay night inspired by Berlin’s Homopatik or London’s Chapter 10, it’s all about the music, open to everyone and with an inclusive vibe. Three-hour-long sets give the DJs the chance to take you on a real journey. This weekend sees another edition at Club Vaag with Marco Passarani, Fais Le Beau, Vieira and Sixsixsixties behind the decks.

Art award: Input/Output at De Bond

Saturday, 21 October, 19h30 Bruges

Talent watch: under the name Input/Output Bruges’ cultural center De Bond organises an annual competition for young visual artists. The award ceremony of this 7th edition takes place this Saturday, followed by an exhibition featuring works by Florien Allemeersch, Nel Bonte, Catharina Dhaen, Linde Dumolein, Quint Hartmann, Evi Steyaert, Ritsart Gobyn, Lou Terryn, Pauline Vanhoven & Arjan Vanmeenen.

Night out II: Parties So Secret #2 at Benelux

Friday, 20 October Brussels

“Parties So Secret” is a new nightlife concept hailing from Hasselt which will take over Brussels’ Benelux bar for its second edition this Friday. The soundtrack is provided by Miley Serious, Natv:Men, Bruce Botnik, Orion, and others. Entrance is free!

Opening: Michael Pybus at Tatjana Pieters

Sunday, 22 October, 15h00 Ghent

In “Anything can happen in life, especially nothing…” at Tatjana Pieters gallery in Ghent, London-based artist Michael Pybus is taking on the growing digitalisation of our lives and the way we create a sort of parallel reality by editing and filtering our experiences, which can be accessed and remixed at will. Each of his exhibited paintings references an art-historical work (think Warhol, Picasso or Lichtenstein) reconfiguring and re-editing celebrated art pieces in a way people today put filters and stickers on images by using highly popular apps such as Snapchat. 

Cover photo Sasha Vernaeve