Exhibitions in Antwerp, a music festival (really!) in Ghent, theatre is back in Brussels, plus, the art season opens in the capital with a bang. And all is corona-proof. See you there!
Music: Jazz in ‘t Park at Sint-Pietersabdij
From 3 to 6 September Ghent
Music festival Jazz in ‘t Park has the goal to introduce the widest possible audience to a genre that can seem intimidating to some: jazz. In the lush green setting of Ghent’ s St. Peter’s Abbey, free concerts invite music lovers to both easily digestible jazz as well as a little more experimental shows. The program covers homegrown talent as well as more established artists. To comply with the current pandemic measures, seats need to be reserved in advance.
Performance & theatre: Every Inside Has An Outside
From 4 to 8 September Brussels
As the yearly Kunstenfestivaldesarts had to be cancelled due to the corona lockdown, the organizers have come up with an alternative in three acts, the first of which is “Every Inside Has an Outside”, starting this week. The five-day festival taking place in Schaerbeek features seven artistic projects and a public programme aiming at to providing a reflection on the times we are living in: Brazilian choreographer Alice Ripoll investigates the action of cleaning and the identities of those who have been cornered to perform these necessary tasks in society. Guy Woueté recreates a series of symbolic protests in public space, reminding of its importance as a political space. Wang Bing rebuilds his Beijing apartment, evoking his life in lockdown in January while working on a project on globalization. All performances, debates, and installations take place in the garden of La Maison des Arts, Les Halles de Schaerbeek and the neighbourhood’s public spaces, celebrating artistic creation and its ability to examine the present while reminding us of the collectiveness of our experiences.
Art marathon: Brussels Gallery Weekend 2020
From 3 to 6 September Brussels
Christiane Blattman at Damien & The Love Guru
Exhibitions, guided tours, inaugurations of newly founded art spaces – this weekend, Brussels is buzzing with all things art. From 3 to 6 September, 38 participating galleries, institutions and non-profit spaces open their doors to mark the beginning of the new art season. A sign of hope for the storm-tossed art sector! Everything is organized in a corona-proof manner – so grab a mask, pack some sanitizer, and join the 13th edition of this art marathon.
If you don’t know where to start, visit the Info Point at Rue Lebeau 18, 1000 Brussels or read everything about the gallery weekend and which shows you shouldn’t miss in our Best of Brussels Gallery Weekend here.
Theatre: Het TheaterFestival 2020
From 3 to 13 September Brussels
It’s been a tough time for theatres this year – reason enough to support your local playhouses even more. All performances of the festival were selected by a jury (taking into account the restrictions caused by the pandemic), based on artistic and social relevance and therefore revealing certain tendencies in the sector. The beating heart of the festival is Kaaitheater, joined by BRONKS, Beursschouwburg, KVS, and other partners. Highlights this week: Camping Sunset’s Happiness and Realtime by Antwerpener Dries Gijsels, one of the driving forces within the Brussels theatre collective Koekelbergse Alliantie van Knutselaars.
Opening: Enpleinpublic at Geukens & De Vil
From 6 September Antwerp
From the streets into the white cube: Antwerp’s Geukens & De Vil presents the very first solo show of Belgian artist Frederik Lizen (1986) aka enpleinpublic, bringing works he usually creates at night throughout the city on wooden fences or construction panels. His paintings are often graced with humorous texts, critical reflections on the socio-economic state of our current society.
Opening: Luca Monterastelli at Keteleer gallery
Saturday, 5 September Antwerp
“Old Masters”, Italian artist Luca Monterastelli’s first solo show at Antwerp’s Keteleer Gallery, deals with how art can be used by authority. Fittingly, his preferred genre is sculpture, one of the preferred mediums that authority employs to build its narratives, and which he therefore deems as the the perfect language with which to betray this construct. Monterastelli’s work has been shown at the Venice Biennale in 2015, and in 2017, Alessandro Rabottini, artistic director of the miart fair, nominated him as one of the five best Italian artists under the age of 40.
Open air summer bar: Zomerbar Deluxe at Villa Anamma
Sunday, 6 September Ghent
A picturesque and peaceful setting that serves as the perfect backdrop to unwind with a drink in your hand while catching the last sunrays of this summer: the beautiful garden of Ghent’s Villa Anamma. Music, cocktails and finger food are on the menu.
