8 things to do in Antwerp, Liège, Brussels, and Hasselt, from exhibitions and concerts to markets and film screenings. See you there!
Last days: Aspëkt #8 Murs partagés at Espaces Doris à Collerette
Until 3 December Liège
Art collective Aspëkt, founded 2010 in Namur, serves as a platform for photography and the visual arts, reaching the public via street exhibitions, publications, and more. Now the creative bunch got invited by to Liège by Doris à collerette (DAC), an independent design and visual communication agency for an exhibition that mixes photography, drawings and serigraphy. With Jean-François Flamey, Kristel Brusadelli, Didier Mahieu, and many others.
New kid in town: Axel Vervoordt’s Kanaal
Opens 30 November Antwerp
It’s only opening this week but gallerist and collector Axel Vervoordt’s Kanaal project has already received quite a lot of international media attention: it’s been talked about on artnet, Architectural Digest, and in Wallpaper. Besides apartments, offices and an organic food market, the vast complex hosts the headquarters of the Vervoordt foundation whose pieces are exhibited in a space of no less than 4,000 square meters. The collection includes artworks by Anish Kapoor, Tatsuo Miyajima, Marina Abramović and James Turrell. Not to miss!
Concert: Hercules and Love Affair at Trix
Friday, 1 December Antwerp
Hercules & Love Affair have always known how to set the roof on fire with their pulsating live shows. This weekend the disco revivalists around American DJ Andy Butler play at Antwerp’s Trix, presenting their fourth album “Omnion” which was just released this fall.
Opening: Elite 17 at Krieg
Thursday, 30 November, 19h00 Hasselt
Krieg, a non-profit exhibition space for contemporary art in Hasselt founded in 2016 by PXL-MAD School of Arts, wants to test art’s purpose outside the market place while fostering exchange and discourse. “Elite 17”, a title referring to a peculiar calendar Martin Kippenberger made early 1988 in Vienna, gathers a bunch of artists from the Meuse-Rhine region in an attempt to open up local art scenes and crossing language and state borders.
Shopping: Brussels Vintage Market at Halles St Géry
Sunday, 3 December, 12-19h00 Brussels
If you were counting on the Brussels Vintage Market to get your hands on some Christmas presents, make sure to do so this coming Sunday: it’s the last edition of the year! From noon onwards you can rummage through clohtes, furniture, accessories, vinyls, toys and more on the ground floor, balconies, and terrace of Halles Saint Géry. Plus, there’s a free concert at 16h30 by Crystal & Runnin’ Wild.
Exhibition: Robin Graubard at Office Baroque Ravenstein
Until 28 January Brussels
Office Baroque, who recently opened a second exhibition space at Rue Ravenstein (just across from Bozar), currently presents the captivating works of New York photographer Robin Graubard – the Pulitzer prize nominee’s first solo show in Europe. “Take A Picture It Lasts Longer” assembles images from volatile places such as Mafia hangouts or the war-torn city of Sarajevo, impressing with a particular combination of detachment and empathy. Her photographs have been published in The New York Times, The Guardian, Time, Newsweek, Der Spiegel, Die Welt and others. A must for every photography fan.
Concert: The Sunday Charmers at Flexi Space
Friday, 1 December Brussels
This Friday coworking spot Flexi Space is worth a visit after office hours. There’s a concert by Belgian band The Sunday Charmers, who are currently making a name for themselves with their surf pop-infused indie rock, as well as a wine tasting by Maison Lagneaux.
Art meets film: Order Border Disorder at Pedrami gallery
Until 4 December Antwerp
Antwerp-based artist Imge Özbilge’s animated short film “Camouflage” was in the official selection at the Cannes film festival earlier this year. If you haven’t had the chance to see it yet, you can do so at Pedrami gallery, where it’s being screened in its entirety as part of the exhibition “Order Border Disorder”. The thought-provoking show deals with the cultural and religious borders in Turkey and the Middle East as well as those created between the East and the West.