Things to do in Belgium this week: music in Brussels, an art festival in Leuven, art in Antwerp, photography in Ghent, and more. See you there!
Concert: Hundred Waters at AB
Tuesday, 30 September Brussels
American indie band Hundred Waters, formed in Florida, published their second longplay effort earlier this year – and with its magical, whispering “digital folk” it’s definitely one of our favorite releases of 2014. “The Moon Rang Like a Bell” is the kind of album you’d expected – or hoped – Bat For Lashes to come up with, who instead chose to walk down the mainstream pop lane. You can experience Hundred Waters live on stage this Tuesday at AB.
Last days: Petals on the Wind at Galerie Micheline Szwajcer
Runs until Saturday, 4 October Brussels
„Petals on the Wind“ brings together 33 artists represented by Brussels Galerie Micheline Szwajcer. Accordingly, the exhibition offers a broad, multifaceted and fascinating overview of the gallery’s artistic repertoire. Named after the dark drama by V.C. Andrews, the group show includes some of Belgium’s most renowned artists such as Ann Veronica Janssens and Bernd Lohaus. But there’s also a lot to see from beyond the Belgian borders including On Kawara, Giovanni Anselmo and many others.
Concert: FM Belfast and Berndsen at Botanique
Tuesday, 30 September Brussels
An Icelandic evening at Botanique: this Tuesday two acts from Iceland take over the stage. While FM Belfast is known for its playful electro pop, producer Berndsen’s electronic soundscapes take you back to the 80s. On his Facebook page he promises “batshit-crazy live performances” and judging from FM Belfast’s hilarious videos their gig should be quite an experience as well.
Last days: The Bruce High Quality Foundation at Almine Rech
Until Wednesday, 1 October Brussels
Until Wednesday you still have the chance to check out the genre-crossing works of New York-based art collective The Bruce High Quality Foundation at Brussels’ Almine Rech. The group blends painting, sculpture, performance and video art together to one exciting mix characterized by art historical references, humor and social critique. Until today the members of the collective are still unknown, completely renouncing personal fame and glory. Don’t miss it.
Art festival: UAMO at OPEK
From 2 to 5 October Leuven
Since 2011 the UAMO (urban art and media organization) art festival has been touring the world. This year’s stops include not only include San Francisco, Berlin, Florence, Accra, Linz and Zurich, but also the OPEK art center in the Belgian city of Leuven! Themed PRETTY/UGLY, the festival programme includes exhibitions by 13 different artists form all genres featuring the works of Cindy Bakker, Juan Paparella, Han de Corte and others. Plus, there are workshops, poetry slams, free concerts (by Antwerp electronic producer Hiele for example) and screen printing workshops on offer as well as an art symposium, various performances and special activities for the little ones. Check out the full programme here!
Photography: Jonathan Smith at Nunc Contemporary
Until 18 October Antwerp
Antwerp’s Nunc Contemporary currently presents „Streams“, an absolutely mesmerizing series shot in Northern Iceland by British photographer Jonathan Smith. His spellbinding blue-and-white images of snow-surrounded rivers are contemplative, minimal and simple, skillfully playing with scales and forms. “The work is a response to the meditative landscape of this remote area, at a time of year when it is reduced to an almost indiscernible white space. The terrain is cut through by blue mountain streams that start as a trickle, then grow in size, shape, and character as they meander down through the fjords on their way to the Arctic Ocean,” says the artist.
Double expo: Bright Like A Diamond at Komplot
Until 29 November Brussels
The duo exhibition „Bright Like A Diamond“ unites the practices of Catalan visual artist Carles Congost and Brussels artist duo Sarah & Charles. Both present their recent video works. „Bright Like A Diamond is an exhibition above any other consideration; and there is a cheerful volition to make it appear in front of your eyes as so. May things look bigger than they are, but we will not spend any time comparing scales and directly join the festivities of a fresh and new set-up”, writes the curator Alberto Garcia del Castillo.
Last days: Unterschriften at Marion De Cannière
Until Saturday, 4 October Antwerp
Antwerp’s Marion De Cannière presents a solo exhibition of homegrown artist Pol Matthé. In “Unterschriften” (German for “signatures”) you can discover a series of collages incorporating images, patterns, texts and various different materials. Some of these pieces stem from his earlier works, some were lovingly collected over the years at his home in Antwerp. Many of Matthé’s works are the result of random finds. The exhibition title for instance is derived from an administrative file model by the stationary manufacturer Leitz that he had bought on a flea market in Stuttgart a few years ago.
More photography: Laura Van Severen at KASK
Until 12 October Ghent
Ghent’s renowned art school KASK regularly exhibits the works of Master students from all disciplines in a light-flooded glass corridor. “Master Project #24” showcases the creations of young photographer Laura Van Severen under the titel “I’m here / You See”. Her minimal but powerful images skillfully play with scale, perspective and color, and find beauty in places where you’d least expect it.
