Things to do in Belgium this week: openings in Brussels, concerts in Antwerp, art in Ostend, and more. See you there!
Opening: Alex Deforce at Bonnefooi
Monday, 12 January, 20h00 Brussels
Alex Deforce, the co-founder of Belgian label On-point, not only has a passion for music but also for art. This Monday you’re invited to discover his most recent works on paper at, of course, a music venue: Brussels’ Bonnefooi. Alex will be joined by New York-based artist Malik Crumpler who’ll present his text “Inevitable mutations”.
Opening: Michel Frère at Albert Baronian
Wednesday, 14 January, 18-21h00 Brussels
Belgian artist Michel Frère, trained at renowned Brussels art school La Cambre, already passed away back in 1999 at the young age of 38. Albert Baronian Gallery now exhibits a part of his work that has never been shown on Belgian ground before: a series of paintings characterized by his typical multilayered style which he had made during several trips to Montecatini, Italy.
Opening: (Vol.2) at Super Dakota
Thursday, 15 January, 18-21h00 Brussels
This fascinating group exhibition at Brussels’ Super Dakota includes works by five different artists from Germany, Belgium, Spain and the US. With their creations they all address the meaning of memory and our relationship with it while investigating contemporary culture, the contemporary image and the strive for archiving, storing and collecting information which is deeply ingrained in our culture. With works by Pieterjan Ginckels, Ryan Lauderdale, Conor Backman, Eva Berendes and Manuel Fernandez.
Closing event: Last day at Rivoli at Delire Gallery
Thursday, 15 January, 18-21h00 Brussels
Brussels’ Delire Gallery, an integral part of the city’s gallery scene, is moving on to new adventures. This Thursday you’re invited to celebrate the last day in their current location, the Rivoli building. On show will be a group expo featuring works by Gianni Motti, Pat McCarthy, Laure Provoust and many others.
Opening: David Widart at La Villa Hermosa
Thursday, 15 January, 18h00 Brussels
You might have spotted Belgian photographer David Widart’s works last year at Bozar, where he participated in The Word Magazine’s “The Belgian Six”, a group exhibition showcasing a selection of Belgium’s best photography talents. He’s just started a residency at La Villa Hermosa, a platform for graphic design, publishing and exhibitions, and this Thursday you can come by to check out his progress.
Concert: Zoot Woman at Trix
Friday, 16 January, 19h30 Antwerp
British electronic pop outfit Zoot Woman released their fourth album “Star Climbing” last summer and this Friday you can see them live on stage at Antwerp’s Trix. Their soundscapes are dark, melancholic and dancy alike, at times referencing the disco culture of the 80s.
Print: Speedbooking at Tipi Bookshop
Friday, 16 January, 18h00 Brussels
Don’t be misled by the title: this is not a dating event for single literature fans. Instead, Speedbooking presents the paper works of 11 students involved in the Master Book class of renowned Brussels art school La Cambre. For six weeks they’ve all been experimenting with the book as a medium, and this Friday they present their very own artist books at Tipi Bookshop. Their creations will be on display until 25 January and include contributions by Camille Testard, Ichraf Nasri, Chloé Deval and others.
Music meets film: Björk festival
From 16 January to 2 February Brussels
Brussels independent cinema Galeries and the city’s opera house La Monnaie De Munt team up for a mini festival dedicated to Icelandic icon Björk. It’s kicking off this Friday with chamber music by Estonian composer Arvo Pärt and in the coming weeks there’ll be screenings of the artistic multitalent’s movies from Dancer in the Dark to Juniper Tree as well as a one-day exhibition presenting an installation of her music videos.
Art festival: Brussels Cologne Contemporaries at Lempertz
From 16 to 18 January Brussels
BCC 2014
Brussels Cologne Contemporaries (BCC) is a great initiative trying to bind the artistic scenes of Brussels and Cologne closer together. After all, there’s only a two-hour train ride in-between! The event encourages an exchange between galleries and non-profit spaces of both cities, alternating between the two places each year. This year it’s all going down in the Belgian capital once more with different solo exhibitions at Lempertz, bringing together 13 galleries from Brussels and Cologne ranging from Levy.Delval and Hopstreet to Schmidt & Handrup and Ginerva Gambino.
Music: 15 Jaar Duyster at Trix
Sunday, 18 January, 19h30 Antwerp
Ayco Duyster’s weekly Sunday evening show on Studio Brussel is one of the country’s most acclaimed radio programmes and especially loved by fans of melancholy indie folk, sparse electronics and dreamy post-rock. This weekend “Duyster” celebrates its 15th birthday with a huge party at Antwerp’s Trix and a number of bands performing live on stage from Soak to The Bony King of Nowhere.
Opening: Geraldine van Wessem at Vrijstaat O.
Sunday, 18 January, 14-18h00 Ostend
Young Belgian photographer Geraldine van Wessem, born in Dendermonde and with a Masters from Ghent’s Royal Academy under her belt, undoubtedly has a penchant for portrait and landscape photography. Her captivating images have an intimate, delicate and calming feel to them. This Sunday you’re invited to her solo exhibition at Ostend’s art center Vrijstaat O.
