Cultural things to do in Antwerp, Sint-Niklaas, Brussels, and Ghent. As always, don’t forget to check for venue-specific Covid measures. See you there!
Fashion: Costume Design Masters at Blikfabriek
From 10 to 12 September Antwerp
The reputed Master in Costume Design at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp attracts students from all over the world. While the link to performing arts and the presence of the human body are essential, it’s a multidisciplinary program challenging the boundaries between costume design and the visual arts. This weekend you can discover the final works of Master students Jente De Graef, Lee Kie Hyee, Daheng Liu, Xuanlin Wang and Bingyan Wu through theatre, dance, performance, photography, film, and installation art.
Exhibition: Risquons-Tout at Wiels
From 12 September to 10 January Brussels
“Risquons-Tout” (meaning let’s risk everything) is such an ambitious, intriguing and wide-ranging exhibition, you should pencil in a couple of hours to fully experience it. The issues it addresses couldn’t be more timely: unpredictability, polarization, and the homogenisation of thought in our own echo chambers. The featured artists, 38 in total, both emerging and established, all have ties to the so-called “Eurocore” region, the area between Amsterdam, Paris, Cologne, Düsseldorf and London, with Brussels at its center. Neil Beloufa presents an updated version of his monumental, highly political installation “The Enemy of my Enemy” first exhibited at Paris’ Palais de Tokyo, Nora Taruto takes over an entire wall with a colorful text-based painting, Anne-Mie Van Kerckhoven set up a video room screening her brand new slightly psychedelic film “A-X+B=12”, Laure Prouvost‘s poetic messages are hidden in hallways and next to elevators as if part of a scavenger hunt,… It’s one of those thought-provoking and multifaceted shows (without failing to be visually stunning as well) that you’ll probably want to visit more than once. Plus, “Risquons-tout” also includes a book, a performance program (don’t miss Ed Atkins at Flagey!), and an Open School, collaborating with venues throughout the city and fostering exchange . Absolutely not to miss.
Film: Cinema Urbana at Zomerfabriek
Saturday, 12 September Antwerp
Hidden behind graffiti-sprayed walls on a gigantic former industrial site in Antwerp’s Berchem neighbourhood is the Zomerfabriek, a both indoor and outdoor venue that’s just the perfect spot to enjoy summer days and nights. Besides exhibitions, dance classes, food and drinks, there’s also an open air cinema on the menu. Up on the screen this weekend: Casey Affleck’s Light of my Life and the short film Ascending Double Helix by Vito A. Rowlands.
Art festival: Coup de Ville 2020
From 11 September to 11 October Sint-Niklaas
An initiative of contemporary art platform WARP, Coup De Ville is an art festival taking you on a tour through Belgian town Sint-Niklaas. The art route, featuring 40 homegrown and international artists, takes the viewer to public and private spaces, historical landmarks and hidden gardens. This year’s theme: “Chasing Flowers”, hinting at the search for softer values in today’s society. With works by Marie Cloquet, Laura Fitzgerald, Jinoos Taghizadeh, and many others.
Music: Citadelic at Koningin Astridpark
12 and 13 September Ghent
Concerts in the park, surrounded by greenery: that’s the concept of Citadelic festival. There’ll be piano music with Fabian Fiorini or Ben Sluys, Orange Moon and a tango ensemble, junk and swing jazz, and s o much more.
Exhibition: Richard Aldrich at Gladstone Gallery
Runs until 3 October Brussels
At Gladstone Gallery, art enthusiasts can currently dive into the eclectic oeuvre of New York artist Richard Aldrich who uses images, symbols, language, and different painting styles to evoke a variety of reference points and experiences. Juxtaposing older and newer works, his pieces reach from expressive abstract paintings to figurative and conceptual ones as well as minimalist sculptures, continuously adding new layers to his work.
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