Arty things to do in Leuven, Charleroi, and Brussels, from exhibitions to music festivals. See you there!
Exhibition: Sigefride Bruna Hautman at M Museum
Runs until 31 August Leuven
Belgian artist Sigefride Bruna Hautman, based in Antwerp, has been making sculptures, reliefs, installations, videos, drawings, collages and textual work since the 1980s. The easiest way to describe her artistic universe: Poetry captured in images. Hautman draws inspiration from art, music and literature, citing influences as diverse as Giotto, Samuel Beckett and David Bowie, and touches upon themes such as social outrage, existential questions and family or interpersonal relationships. This exhibition at M Museum, titled “Figurative Poems”, is the first survey exhibition of her fascinating oeuvre.
Music: BRDCST 25 at Ancienne Belgique
From 4 to 6 April Brussels
Every year Brussels music venue Ancienne Belgique invites music adventurers to BRDCST Festival. Its makers describe the line-up this way: “Algorithms aren’t our thing: the only thing that matters is the talent that gets our hearts racing.” The result is an eclectic program featuring carefully curated artists from around the world – a great way for curious listeners to discover new sounds. With Dame Area, Shida Shahabi, Wolf Eyes, and many others.
Lecture: Poetry as a remedy for a world turned hostile at Maison Hannon
Tuesday, 1 April, 18h30 Brussels
The second talk of an ongoing series in collaboration with the Modernitas research unit in an exceptional setting: the Hannon house, an Art Nouveau masterpiece. This edition with Carole Bourne-Taylor, an Associate Professor at the University of Oxford, deals with the notion of ‘poetic dwelling’ – something that could serve as a remedy in these increasingly anxiety-inducing times. Poetry can show a more empathetic way of relating to the world while counteracting consumption, commodification and over-conceptualisation. A timely and much-needed discussion.
Music: George Night #20 at Garcia Lorca
Saturday, 5 April, 18h00 Brussels
Brussels collective George, which makes “noise, music, films and sometimes everything at the same time”, invites you to the 20th edition of George Nights. On the program this week: Three bands, a DJ set, food, and a welcoming atmosphere. Ensemble Irsahm reinterprets ancient music, Mes Lèvres is a Brussels vocal duo, and MMUDD makes electronic post-punk.
Exhibition: Candice Breitz at BPS22
Runs until 11 May Charleroi
BPS22 in Charleroi presents “OFF VOICES”, the first solo exhibition in Belgium by South African artist Candice Breitz. The show explores themes of celebrity culture, social media, and privilege through immersive video installations and photography. Breitz’s work critically examines how media shapes identity and empathy, using collage, editing, and appropriation to challenge dominant narratives. Key works include “TLDR”, a piece amplifying the voices of sex workers, and “Digest”, a striking installation of 1,001 repurposed VHS cassette covers.
