Antwerp Art Weekend 2018

From 25 to 27 May Antwerp

This weekend the Belgian art scene gathers in Antwerp for the fourth edition of the Antwerp Art Weekend, an initiative bringing together the city’s many and multifaceted art spaces, galleries and museums in a three-day art marathon featuring more than 60 events.  A great opportunity to dive into the vibrant local art scene, which has gotten a number of exciting new additions lately. From veterans such as Zeno X to Icelandic newcomers ABC Klubhuis, from institutions to independent project rooms – the city has it all, and does not have to hide one bit behind Brussels. Here are a few highlights we think you shouldn’t miss:

Miles Fischler  at Valerie Traan

As a photographer, the Antwerp-based Sint-Lukas graduate is mainly interested in architecture and in observing how people live and how they use the space around them while searching for a balance between colours, shapes and light inside the photographic frame. At Valerie Traan she is showing a short film made up of impressions filmed in Greece. “Greece, land of theatre” shows people, animals and man-made objects set against a backdrop of landscapes and architecture. Also on view at the gallery: Bas Smets and Eliane le Roux whose pieces tell a prehistoric story of living matter transformed into solid material, as a compression of time and space of biospheric processes.

Chinese Spring #3 at Stieglitz19

A little more than a year after the passing of internationally celebrated Chinese photographer Ren Hang, Stieglitz19 presents not only a selection of his poetic and provocative works but also shines a light on young Chinese photography today, on which Ren’s ground-breaking and fearless practice has had quite an impact. A tribute to an exceptional artist the world lost far too soon. With works by Chen Wei, Ji Zhou, Zhang Wei, Zhang Hai’er, Rong Rong and Lin Zhipeng.

Boarding Galleries

The brand new “Boarding Galleries” initiative makes sure Antwerp’s art scene is not just revolving around itself, inviting galleries from Rotterdam, Brussels, and Germany to exhibit in spaces in the city’s Nieuw Zuid, provided by Plus One and Sofie Van de Velde. Galerie Zink, now based in the picturesque village of Waldkirchen after many years of city life in Berlin and Munich, interestingly has a history of representing Belgian artists, from Rinus Van de Velde to Hannelore Van Dijck.

Jef Verheyen at Axel Vervoordt

Axel Vervoordt Gallery at Kanaal will present four solo shows during Antwerp Art Weekend: Jef Verheyen, Chung Chang-Sup, Otto Bol and Kwon Dae-Sup. The exhibition devoted to Jef Verheyen is probably the most remarkable one, focusing on key paintings from the 1960s and 70s, and featuring previously unseen works from the artist’s estate that will be shown to the public for the first time.

ABC Klubhuis at De Studio

For the Antwerp Art Weekend ABC Klubhuis takes over the second floor of De Studio for an art experience stretching over three rooms bringing together more than 20 different artists. With Sarah & Charles, Sophie Nys, Helgi Thorsson, and many many others.

Food: Vegan Street Festival

Saturday, 26 May, 10-22h00 Brussels

Veganizer BXL  is a platform showcasing vegan restaurant, cafés, shops and more all around Brussels. This week you’re invited to the Vegan Street Festival, a celebration of veganism featuring  everything from food and clothing to cruelty-free make-up. The market is accompanied by a program of conferences, music and talks at Via Via Café. With Sinstreetfood, Greenway, Ben & Jerry’s, The Vexican, The Dutch Weedburger, and so much more.

Album release: Bed Rugs at Het Bos

Saturday, 26 May, 20h00 Antwerp

Music made in Belgium: five-piece Bed Rugs is releasing its third album this week under the name “Hard Fun Grand Design”. You can discover the psychedelic-infused indie pop of the boys from Antwerp live on stage at Het Bos this Saturday.

Opening: 3 exhibitions at Rossi Contemporary

Saturday, 26 May, 15-19h00 Brussels

Rossi Contemporary, located in Ixelles’ iconic Rivoli building, invites you to a triple exhibition experience featuring shows by three Belgian artists: Charleroi-based painter Alain Bornain, Bénédicte Henderick, a Belgian mixed media artist living and working in Brussels, and P.B Van Rossem, a painter based in Mollem.

Opening: Mix & Match at Galerie Rivoli

Saturday, 26 May Brussels Brussels

In same building as Rossi Contemporary there’s another opening happening that very day: “Mix & Match” brings together the universes of six different artists as the first instalment of an exhibition series titled “La peau de l’ours”, a reference to the French saying to not sell the bear skin before you’ve caught the bear and a hint to the core of the project by curator Elodie Bernard: the creation of a community of young collectors of contemporary art. The show is thought up inspired by the Mix & Match principle we know from the fashion world, combining different materials and colours in an intuitive and original way.

Finissage: Jonathan van Doornum at Dash

Sunday, 27 May, 14-18h00 Kortrijk

Last days: this week is your last chance to discover the works of Dutch artist Jonathan van Doornum. “Polishing my fake patina” explores the idea of a false authentic feeling being polished, examining and questioning the appearance of originality. Jonathan mainly works as a sculptor and installation artist, incorporating elements of the urban Dutch landscape and everyday objects into his practice.

Cover photo Miles Fischler