Your Belgian cultural agenda for the week: An art festival in Leuven, stand up in the park in Brussels, an art walk in Liège, and much more. See you there!
Art route: LABO #5
Until Sunday, 6 June Leuven
Every year, LABO Leuven creates a platform for contemporary art in an exceptional location, inviting artists to experiment outside of conventional museum and gallery walls with site-specific interventions or stand-alone works. This 5th edition takes place on and around the Engels Plein in Leuven, a stop-off for a freight railway and the transfer of goods between vessels, warehouses, companies and railways in the 19th century. 21 artists and collectives have taken on the task to enter a dialogue with the historic surroundings, including Basile Richon, Julie Van Kerckhoven, and many others. There are free guided tours on weekends.
Comedy: Stand Up in the Woods at Le Kiosque
Tuesday, 1 June, 18h30-20h00 Brussels
Open air culture: with theatres and most cultural venues remaining closed, cozy park bar Le Kiosque is turning its summer terrace into a stage, bringing performers to Brussels’ green lung Bois de la Cambre. Every Tuesday, a different comedian will try to make the audience laugh. Great initiative!
Exhibition: Blood Becomes Water at Sterput
From 4 to 6 June Brussels
Belgian-Bulgarian artist collective Blood Becomes Water consisting of Raya Boteva, Rosie Eisor and Robin Renard presents its eclectic, playful, bold and delightfully imperfect universe at Sterput for one weekend. It’s a mix of contemporary art, illustration, graphic design, and independent publishing: expect fanzines, limited edition posters, and original illustrations. The multitalented three-piece also designs limited editions on textiles, creates murals and installations, and regularly merges all these areas into a non-periodical, hand-made publication featuring a selection of guest artists. In its hometown Sofia, the trio is also heavily involved in the local music scene. Not to miss!
Illustration: Picture! Festival
From 29 May till 20 June Brussels
Picture! Festival, now in its second edition, celebrates illustration in all its forms, through exhibitions, workshops, and more. One highlight is the print fair at LaVallée, bringing together micro-publishers and artists from all over Belgium and elsewhere with their images, fanzines and unique editions. Also not to miss: The creation of a “living newspaper” by Live Magazine at Bozar.
Gallery tour: Art Brussels Week
From 3 to 6 June Brussels & beyond
Jaqueline Martins gallery
With the Belgian capital’s long-standing art fair Art Brussels being cancelled the second year in a row due to the global pandemic, its makers have come up with an alternative concept instead: The Art Brussels Week, which counts over 115 gallery shows under its umbrella – mainly in Brussels (38 participating galleries) but also in other Belgian cities as well as all around the world. Special city maps to facilitate gallery hopping are available for Brussels, Antwerp, Knokke and Paris. A great opportunity to check out the new, upgraded gallery spaces of Harlan Levey Projects and Sorry We’re Closed as well as recent new additions to the Brussels art scene Nino Mier and Jaqueline Martins. All shows will also be on display via the Art Brussels Online Viewing Room (OVR) hosted by Artsy.
Rooftop music: Basic Moves at Albert Culture
Sunday, 6 June, 15-22h00 Brussels
Outdoor art walk: Art au Centre #6
Opens Sunday, 6 June Liège
A great initiative to re-energize Liège’s city center while making art easily accessible to everybody: Art au Centre exhibits artworks by different local and international artists in street windows all over town. The 6th edition kicks off this Thursday, featuring 29 artists and 26 storefronts. With works by Laura Jatkowski, Alexis Poline, and many others. Find a detailed map here.
