Things to do in Belgium this week: a book launch in Antwerp, an art festival in Brussels, a food festival in Ghent, and more. See you there!

Book launch: Allegory of the Cave Painting at Cinema Zuid

Wednesday, 18 March, 20-22h00 Antwerp

“Allegory of the Cave Painting”, an exhibition in two parts initiated by Antwerp’s Extra City Kunsthal, takes the prehistoric Gwion Gwion paintings in Western Australia as a starting point, assembling a selection of artworks which in one way or another respond to these paintings’ materiality, meaning and time. While the second part of the fascinating expo project is currently on show at Middelheim Museum, a book launch is taking place this Wednesday at Cinema Zuid. On the occasion you can not only discover the publication but also a performance by American artist Jeremiah Day and film screenings by YBA and Turner nominee Tacita Dean, the great Pierre Huyghe, and Fabien Giraud & Raphaël Siboni.

Art festival: Performatik 2015

From 18 to 29 March Brussels

This week the fourth edition of Brussels biennal of performance art kicks off, exploring every aspect of the genre with an intriguing and varied program taking place in museums, theatres and other art spaces all over the city. While Belgian choreography star Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker rethinks dance in a captivating exhibition at Wiels, visual artist Joëlle Tuerlinckx creates a theatre performance at the Kaiitheater, and German artist Ulla von Brandenburg presents her first major creation for theatre, a play sung by five actors and the Brussels Brecht-Eisler Chorus.

Opening: Pauline Miko, Margaux Valengin, Sarah Van Marcke & Eric Croes at Rossi Contemporary

Thursday, 19 March, 18h00 Brussels

Brussels gallery Rossi Contemporary invites you to the opening of not one but four shows this Thursday, giving you the opportunity to discover the very different practices of four rising Belgian and French artists. While young photography talent Pauline Miko presents her powerful and intimate take on portrait photography, Eric Croes shows his playful sculptures and Ghent-based Sarah Van Marcke exhibits her mesmerizing images of architectural bits. And last but not least there’s Margaux Valengin, a recent painting graduate based in London.

Shopping: La Caravane at Vêtue

From 19 to 22 March Brussels

La Caravane, run by Claire Silva Moreira, is originally an online project aimed at selling vintage furniture pieces over the net at IKEA prices. Now she takes her idea offline and sets up shop in the Vêtue store for four days on the occasion of “The Boutique week” in Rue Leon Lepage, specialising in everything for the little ones. If you’re into beautifully renovated and carefully handpicked stuff that is affordable at the same time, this is your chance!

Opening: Colonel & Spit and Gauthier Leroy at Alice Gallery

Thursday, 19 March, 18h00 Brussels

At Brussels’ Alice Gallery, Belgium’s expert in street art, two exhibitions open this week, whose strongest common denominator is undoubtedly their sense of humor. With “Double Super Flux Tendu”, artist duo Colonel & Spit presents its punky, collectively produced drawings and installations revealing influences from the Beat Generation, graffiti art and even Art Brut. Gauthier Leroy’s show on the other hand explores the cartoon cliché of a castaway, a desert island and a palm tree. “My works are similar to treasure hunts in which the viewer is invited to question the reverse side of things and their true origin,” says the artist.

Concert: The Sunday Charmers at Flamingo

Friday, 20 March, 20h00 Brussels

Don’t be misled by the comical image: even though The Sunday Charmers might come across as a comedy threesome judging from their rather silly visuals, these guys are serious musicians. The Belgian three-piece made up of two brothers and their childhood friend has recently been taken under the wing of Brussels collective La Brique and is currently working on its first EP. You can get a first taste of their nostalgic, danceable pop rock this Friday at Flamingo and listen to a few songs here.

Opening: Japanese Whispers at S. & H. De Buck

Friday, 20 March, 19h00 Ghent

“Japanese Whispers”, kicking off this Friday at Ghent’s S. & H. De Buck, brings together the works of Tine Guns, Zaza Bertrand, and Meta-bo. All three photographers have a fascination for Japan in common, a palce that doesn’t cease to capture people’s imaginations. With a sensible eye and a sense for detail they all show their very personal views on life in the East Asian country.

Kerk Food Festival

From 20 to 22 March Ghent

Listen up, foodies! This weekend the second edition of the Kerk Food festival opens its doors, a true paradise if you like to get your munch on. A selection of some of the region’s very best food trucks will take over the indoor hall at Gentbrugge church, offering everything from so-called Weed Burgers to Surinam street food. Plus, there’ll be music and activities for kids.

Night out: Hindu Nights at Vooruit

Saturday, 21 March, 22h30 Ghent

The infamous Hindu Nights have established themselves over the years as the country’s biggest indie rock parties. This Saturday there’ll be another edition at Ghent’s Vooruit, featuring a line-up including A Boy Named Johnny, London’s Olly Soul Train, and more. If you like to move to rocky tunes from The Smiths to The Strokes and back, this is the perfect night out for you.

Cover photo Grégoire Pleynet