Things to do in Belgium this week: print love and poetry in Brussels, exhibitions in Antwerp, an art exchange in Namur, and more. See you there!
Print fair: Eat My Paper at Recyclart art center
5 November Brussels
Eat My Paper, a print fair championing free creation by uniting different paper-related universes evolving around self-publishing, proves it once again: print is not dead. Here, you’ll find everything from architecture and graphic design to illustration and more experimental approaches by Belgian as well as international artists. Plus, there’s an exhibition, vegan food, workshops, and concerts.
Opening: Vincent Geyskens at Trampoline Gallery
Saturday, 5 November Antwerp
is The title of Trampoline Gallery’s current exhibition, “Spam of control” is inspired by “Span of control”, a term used in business management, particularly human resource management. It refers to the number of subordinates a supervisor has. The exhibition presents a fascinating selection of works by Vincent Geyskens, who is not only known for his paintings but also his collages, which he bases on a multitude of different things from a sculpted portrait of Gertrude Stein by Jacques Lipchitz to the Roman emperor Caligula and an intervention group of the Antwerp police force for specific crisis situations.
Food market: Marché des Tanneurs at Les Ateliers des Tanneurs
Every day except Monday Brussels
Six days a week Brussels’ most beloved bio market takes over the beautifully renovated 19th century warehouse of Les Ateliers de Tanneurs, a start-up hub and multi-event location in the heart of the Marolles. It’s a veritable foodie heaven offering all-organic, locally sourced fruits, veggies, cheese, bread, wines and more. Pro tip: if the sun’s out, make it a brunch on the outdoor terrace!
Poetry: Transpoesie at Bozar
Thursday, 3 November, 20-22h00 Brussels
© Jakob Ganslmeier
Did you know that no other continent has as many resident writers of foreign origin as Europe? Annual poetry festival Transpoesie brings them together, celebrating the diversity of languages in Europe and focusing on writers with a migration background. All poets will be reading from their own work in their own languages, but with projected translations in French, Dutch and English. With Faraj Bayrakdar (Syria/Sweden), Lidija Dimkovska (Macedonia/Slovenia), Ricardo Domeneck (Brazil/Germany), Violetta Greg (Poland/UK), and Fiston Mwanza Mujila (DR Congo/Austria).
Art night: Nocturne at MIMA
Thursday, 3 November, until 22h00 Brussels
If you haven’t checked out Brussels’ newest museum yet, now is a great opportunity to do so: this Thursday MIMA welcomes guests with extended opening hours and special offers: you can sign up for free guided tours of the current “City Lights” exhibition, and with the entrance fee you’ll get a free catalogue of the show. The museum’s own bar and restaurant will be open too.
Design: Espoo turns 7
5 and 6 November Antwerp
Antwerp interior and lifestyle shop Espoo, founded in 2009, has an obvious penchant for Nordic design with a fantastic selection of Scandinavian furniture and objects. Featured brands include Hay, Muuto, Sandqvist and more. It’s quite pricey sometimes, but this week there’s a special birthday sale: for its 7th anniversary Espoo offers customers a 15% discount on an item of their choice!
Art exchange: Art Troc at Académie des Beaux-Arts de Namur
From 4 to 6 November Namur
Namur’s Art Troc wants to make art more accessible to the general public. Here, you don’t need a full wallet or golden credit card. The fair is built around a so-called post-it exchange: like a piece of art? Then get creative and put a post-it on it with what you would offer the artist in exchange. There’ll also be a bio bar featuring local munchies, artsy activities for kids, and more.
Opening: Mark Manders and Kees Goudzwaard at Zeno X
Sunday, 6 November, 15-18h00 Antwerp
This Sunday sees the opening of two solo shows at Antwerp’s Zeno X Gallery featuring two Dutch artists: Mark Manders and Kees Goudzwaard. For Manders it’s already the sixth solo show since joining the gallery in 1994. Here, he will combine a monumental bronze installation with works on paper and several sculptures, while Goudzwaard’s “Walled Garden” unites new oil paintings as well as a site-specific mural.
