<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0"
	xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
	xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
	xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
	xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
	xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
	xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
	>

<channel>
	<title>Art Archives - Brussels Express</title>
	<atom:link href="https://brussels-express.eu/category/art/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>https://brussels-express.eu/category/art/</link>
	<description>Brussels daily online news platform</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Sat, 20 Mar 2021 12:23:29 +0000</lastBuildDate>
	<language>fr-FR</language>
	<sy:updatePeriod>
	hourly	</sy:updatePeriod>
	<sy:updateFrequency>
	1	</sy:updateFrequency>
	

<image>
	<url>https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/cropped-favicon-32x32.png</url>
	<title>Art Archives - Brussels Express</title>
	<link>https://brussels-express.eu/category/art/</link>
	<width>32</width>
	<height>32</height>
</image> 
	<item>
		<title>Folon Exhibit at Villers Abbey: sculpture and architecture in one poetic journey</title>
		<link>https://brussels-express.eu/the-folon-exhibit-at-villers-abbey-sculpture-and-architecture-in-poetic-harmony/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Rosetti Rivera]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 19 Mar 2021 10:32:18 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Art]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Belgium]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cult'Art]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[In focus]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://brussels-express.eu/?p=38935</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>If Jean-Michel Folon were still alive, he would have been gratified to see his sculptures nestled among the remains of</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://brussels-express.eu/the-folon-exhibit-at-villers-abbey-sculpture-and-architecture-in-poetic-harmony/">Folon Exhibit at Villers Abbey: sculpture and architecture in one poetic journey</a> appeared first on <a href="https://brussels-express.eu">Brussels Express</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<figure class="wp-block-video"><video controls preload="auto" src="https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Folon.mp4"></video></figure>



<p>If Jean-Michel Folon were still alive, he would have been gratified to see his sculptures nestled among the remains of Villers Abbey in the Walloon town of Villers-la-Ville.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The Belgian sculptor always had a fascination for the subtle yet powerful relationship between sculpture and architecture, two diverse disciplines that share a three-dimensional form in common.</p>



<p>Folon’s sculptures were designed to live outdoors. Exposing his works to the beauty of architectural sites and watching how they converse with their environment was a tradition Folon kept throughout his life.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="1024" height="595" src="https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Qui-Folon-1-1024x595.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-38991" srcset="https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Qui-Folon-1-1024x595.jpg 1024w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Qui-Folon-1-300x174.jpg 300w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Qui-Folon-1-768x446.jpg 768w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Qui-Folon-1.jpg 1313w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption><em>Qui?</em> by Jean-Michel Folon, 1999</figcaption></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The perfect setting for a poetic journey</strong></h3>



<p>The Villers Abbey provides the ideal setting for the poetic journey that unfolds as you encounter the creations of Folon. With eight centuries and 36 hectares of illustrious history, the former Cistercian monastery invites curiosity and contemplation, much like Folon’s art.&nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" width="1024" height="768" src="https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Angelo-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-38938" srcset="https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Angelo-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Angelo-300x225.jpg 300w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Angelo-768x576.jpg 768w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Angelo-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Angelo-2048x1536.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption><em>Angelo Custode</em> by Jean-Michel Folon, 2005</figcaption></figure>



<p>Against an elaborate and mesmerising background, the sculptures of Folon come off as endearing for their humble and modest appearance. Instead of getting drowned out, they seem to speak even louder.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" width="1024" height="768" src="https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Voyageur-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-38939" srcset="https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Voyageur-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Voyageur-300x225.jpg 300w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Voyageur-768x576.jpg 768w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Voyageur-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Voyageur-2048x1536.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption><em>Le Voyageur</em> by Jean-Michel Folon, 2002</figcaption></figure>



<p>Folon often reduced his subject to its simplest form. He limited the use of symbols to what was essential and universal. It had to be that way because Folon’s sculptures weren’t intended to dominate or intimidate. They were meant to harmonise with their surroundings and spark a connection with the spectator.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="768" src="https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Le-Secret-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-38940" srcset="https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Le-Secret-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Le-Secret-300x225.jpg 300w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Le-Secret-768x576.jpg 768w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Le-Secret-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Le-Secret-2048x1536.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption><em>Le Secret</em> by Jean-Michel Folon, 1999</figcaption></figure>



<p>The main character in Folon’s work is a man wearing a plain suit and bearing minimal features. Simple yet mysterious, sometimes playful but always thought-provoking. He represents somebody, nobody, and everybody at the same time. And although he is a work of art, this figure is really just another visitor contemplating the world around him. Like you.&nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="549" src="https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Allee2-1024x549.png" alt="" class="wp-image-38941" srcset="https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Allee2-1024x549.png 1024w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Allee2-300x161.png 300w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Allee2-768x412.png 768w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Allee2.png 1351w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>The <em>Allée des Pensées</em> presents 8 works from Folon&rsquo;s <em>Les Pensées</em> series. It was inspired by the Avenue of Sphinxes in Luxor, Egypt.</figcaption></figure>



<p>The exhibit at Villers Abbey features 22 of more than 400 wood and bronze sculptures by Folon. One section of the abbey takes you down the <em>Allée des Pensées</em> or Alley of Thoughts, a sculptural ensemble of eight works depicting Folon’s main character. Each statue has a different object for a head, provoking a dialogue with the viewer.</p>



<p>Who are they and what’s their story? Are they one and the same character captured in different moments of reflection? Or different individuals with their own interpretation of one and the same subject? That’s between you and Mr. Folon.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/M.-Folon.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-38942" width="570" height="376" srcset="https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/M.-Folon.jpeg 400w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/M.-Folon-300x198.jpeg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 570px) 100vw, 570px" /><figcaption>Jean-Michel Folon: Belgian painter, illustrator, printmaker, and sculptor (1934-2005) ©Fondation Folon</figcaption></figure>



<p>Jean-Michel Folon began devoting himself to sculpture in 1993 following a long and established career as a watercolor painter, illustrator, and printmaker. His sculptures have travelled all over Belgium and to other parts of the world, from Europe to America and all the way to Asia.&nbsp;</p>



<p>In 2003, Folon was named ambassador to UNICEF and accorded the Legion of Honor, the highest French order of merit. He established the <a href="https://fondationfolon.be/?lang=en">Folon Foundation</a> located in the farm of Château de la Hulpe in Solvay Park. </p>



<p>The Folon Expo at <a href="https://villers.be/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Villers Abbey</a> marks the 20th anniversary of the Folon Foundation. The event opened last October and ends on March 21. If you miss it, you can always visit the works of Folon at Château de La Hulpe.&nbsp;From March 27 to November 7, the Folon Foundation will hold an exhibit featuring the posters designed by the versatile Belgian artist.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://brussels-express.eu/the-folon-exhibit-at-villers-abbey-sculpture-and-architecture-in-poetic-harmony/">Folon Exhibit at Villers Abbey: sculpture and architecture in one poetic journey</a> appeared first on <a href="https://brussels-express.eu">Brussels Express</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		<enclosure url="https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Folon.mp4" length="44453398" type="video/mp4" />

			</item>
		<item>
		<title>« In Venice it is possible to dive into art and just disappear » &#8212; Cees Noteboom in Brussels</title>
		<link>https://brussels-express.eu/in-venice-it-is-possible-to-dive-into-art-and-just-disappear-cees-noteboom-in-brussels/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Admin BE]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 31 Oct 2019 17:09:20 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Art]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Belgium]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cult'Art]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[In focus]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Literature]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://brussels-express.eu/?p=37934</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>On October 27th, the award-winning Dutch novelist, poet, and journalist, Cees Nooteboom was in Brussels and spoke with Margot Dijkgraaf</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://brussels-express.eu/in-venice-it-is-possible-to-dive-into-art-and-just-disappear-cees-noteboom-in-brussels/">« In Venice it is possible to dive into art and just disappear » &#8212; Cees Noteboom in Brussels</a> appeared first on <a href="https://brussels-express.eu">Brussels Express</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>On October 27th, the award-winning Dutch novelist, poet, and journalist, Cees Nooteboom was in Brussels and spoke with Margot Dijkgraaf about his life as a traveler and observer. The event took place within the realm of the cultural cycle <a href="https://brussels-express.eu/agenda/les-deutschlands/"><em>Les Deutschlands</em></a> at Flagey.</p>
<p>Since a young age, Noteboom was eager to be in the center of world affairs. He saw the Velvet Revolution in Budapest, the coup against Salvador Allende in Chile, the fall of the Berlin wall, and he has written about them in great detail.</p>
<p>A recipient of the renowned peace prize, the Pegasus Prize, the Anne Frank Prize, the Aristeion Prize, and multiple other literary prizes, Nooteboom let the audience come along with him on some of his life adventures and journeys as he read various excerpts from his work.</p>
<p>Travel has offered him the possibility to participate in many monumental, life evolving events. It has also given him the freedom to create new identities: “When I travel, I can have more lives than just the one, more identities, more stories. Traveling is like meditating. In the moment, one doesn’t belong to anything, and traveling becomes a commute between two worlds.”</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-37935 size-large" src="https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/IMG_1912-1024x681.jpg" alt="Cees Noteboom" width="800" height="532" srcset="https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/IMG_1912-1024x681.jpg 1024w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/IMG_1912-300x200.jpg 300w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/IMG_1912-768x511.jpg 768w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/IMG_1912.jpg 1936w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>He described the expression <em>Das ewige Pilger des fehlendes</em> which could be translated as forever being the pilgrim that misses one of the worlds. At the same time, he continued, if he were to remain in one place, he would sense a fracture if staying at home.</p>
<p>Known to be playful with his writing, Nooteboom has described the existence of mountains in the Netherlands &#8211; a notoriously flat terrain. But because the Netherlands is a small country, he has extended his story telling from the Netherlands on to the Alps, to Greece, Spain, and to many other destinations. He now divides his time between Amsterdam, Menorca, a winter escape in Germany, as well as Venice, a place he associates with the abundance of art.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-37936 " src="https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/IMG_1914-1024x681.jpg" alt="Cees Noteboom" width="841" height="559" srcset="https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/IMG_1914-1024x681.jpg 1024w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/IMG_1914-300x200.jpg 300w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/IMG_1914-768x511.jpg 768w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/IMG_1914.jpg 1936w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 841px) 100vw, 841px" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>“The old power behind Venice has disappeared except for traces of it in the buildings, the architecture,” he said. In Venice, where cars are not allowed and there are few bikes, “walking is like thinking. One has to think and one has to walk. It’s quite simple. In Venice, it is possible to dive into art and just disappear, escape in the beauty and mesmerizing of seeing. Art moves us forward.”</p>
<p>He also spoke affectionately of the Belgian writer Hugo Claus, a friend whose contributions spanned the genres of poetry, drama, the novel, as well as of painting and film directing, and who chose to die by euthanasia.</p>
<p>Nooteboom described him as someone who remained true to himself until the very end, as “someone who lived with unyielding self-confidence – perfect self-assurance”. Noteboom recalled the festive yet melancholic atmosphere at Claus’s home the last week of his life. “We drank glass after glass of champagne while he was dying. The drama was underneath the surface of that joy.” But it was Claus’s humor, his knowledge, the traits that stayed on and inspired Noteboom as a writer.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-37937 " src="https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/IMG_1922-1024x681.jpg" alt="Cees Noteboom" width="848" height="564" srcset="https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/IMG_1922-1024x681.jpg 1024w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/IMG_1922-300x200.jpg 300w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/IMG_1922-768x511.jpg 768w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/IMG_1922.jpg 1936w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 848px) 100vw, 848px" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>In Spain he looks at the sky and he likes to believe he has bought a parcel in the sky. “I never stop to be amazed. At every single aspect in the universe. That’s how I like to observe the world.”</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><em>Flagey, Goethe-Institut Belgien, De Bezige Bij, Tropismes, Paard Van Troje, Buchfink</em></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://brussels-express.eu/in-venice-it-is-possible-to-dive-into-art-and-just-disappear-cees-noteboom-in-brussels/">« In Venice it is possible to dive into art and just disappear » &#8212; Cees Noteboom in Brussels</a> appeared first on <a href="https://brussels-express.eu">Brussels Express</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>Chokwe mask lost during Angola&#8217;s civil war is recovered and added to IncarNations exhibition</title>
		<link>https://brussels-express.eu/chokwe-mask-lost-during-angolas-civil-war-recovered-and-added-to-incarnations-exhibition/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Admin BE]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jul 2019 10:45:49 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Africa]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Art]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BOZAR]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cult'Art]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://brussels-express.eu/?p=34658</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>The mask belongs to the Dundo Regional Museum in Angola and went missing during the civil war (1975-2002). The story</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://brussels-express.eu/chokwe-mask-lost-during-angolas-civil-war-recovered-and-added-to-incarnations-exhibition/">Chokwe mask lost during Angola&rsquo;s civil war is recovered and added to IncarNations exhibition</a> appeared first on <a href="https://brussels-express.eu">Brussels Express</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The mask belongs to the Dundo Regional Museum in Angola and went missing during the civil war (1975-2002). The story of the quest to find the stolen mask began two years ago, and has today reached a happy ending: the mask will be returned to the Angolan authorities. Before it is sent back to Angola, it can be seen in the halls of the Centre for Fine Arts as part of the IncarNations exhibition.</p>
<p>IncarNations presents an original blend of classical and contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora in a dynamic setting. The exhibition includes a room on the ongoing recovery project around the Dundo Regional Museum, where a recently rediscovered flyswatter was put on display. The mask will now also be given a place in this room from Tuesday 23 July until the end of the exhibition (6 October).</p>
<p>This is a ‘Chihongo’ mask, from the Chokwe people of Angola. Masks of this type are traditionally associated with the mukanda initiation ceremonies.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-34659" src="https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/4BA7A30B-9DD7-411B-BC98-9C8640393443.jpeg" alt="" width="650" height="975" srcset="https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/4BA7A30B-9DD7-411B-BC98-9C8640393443.jpeg 650w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/4BA7A30B-9DD7-411B-BC98-9C8640393443-200x300.jpeg 200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px" /></p>
<h4></h4>
<h4>Recovery Mission</h4>
<p>The Congolese collector, art patron and entrepreneur Sindika Dokolo launched an ambitious recovery mission in 2014. The aim of this project is to track down pieces of art from the collections of the Dundo Regional Museum which disappeared during the Angolan Civil War (1975-2002) and return them to their country of origin.</p>
<p>Through the collective efforts in partnership with collectors, art dealers, auction houses, international researchers and experts, 13 works have already been recovered and returned to the Angolan government since the start of the mission. In this way Dokolo supports the commitment of African institutions to take the management of their heritage into their own hands.</p>
<h4>Important sources for the detective work</h4>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-34660" src="https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/837B90F3-5B9B-44D7-8699-1CD6D557264C.jpeg" alt="" width="808" height="549" srcset="https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/837B90F3-5B9B-44D7-8699-1CD6D557264C.jpeg 650w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/837B90F3-5B9B-44D7-8699-1CD6D557264C-300x204.jpeg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 808px) 100vw, 808px" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>An image of this mask was first published in 1956 by José Redinha, then director of the Dundo Museum.</p>
<p>The mask is also included in a work of reference from 1961, published by Marie-Louise Bastin, Emeritus Professor at the Université Libre de Bruxelles. She did pioneering work in classifying and documenting around 300 important works in the Dundo Regional Museum.</p>
<p>Finally, the archives of the AfricaMuseum in Tervuren are another essential source in tracking down lost pieces, and research into the origins of the items is still done in close collaboration with the AfricaMuseum. The archives include an inventory of the ‘Bureau international de Documentation ethnographique’, with detailed cards giving accurate descriptions of 830 collection pieces from the Dundo Regional Museum.</p>
<h4>Incarnations: <i>Africa Art As Philosophy</i> (28.06 &#8211; 06.10.2019)</h4>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-34661" src="https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/F868A388-4C0A-4478-92AE-12E536C92B7D.jpeg" alt="" width="786" height="523" srcset="https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/F868A388-4C0A-4478-92AE-12E536C92B7D.jpeg 650w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/F868A388-4C0A-4478-92AE-12E536C92B7D-300x200.jpeg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 786px) 100vw, 786px" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>South-African artist/curator Kendell Geers and Congolese art collector Sindika Dokolo selected together 150 works of art from Dokolo’s impressive collection. Their aim is to lead the visitor towards a change in the perspective on ancient and contemporary African art, by focusing on the spirituality that binds them.</p>
<p>IncarNations is at once a mix and exchange between classical and contemporary art from Africa and its diasporas. The masks, images and historic objects act as milestones, anchoring contemporary works in the ancient context of live creation.</p>
<p>The scenography, a vibrant compilation of image, sound and colour, evokes associations with the dynamic bustle of an African metropolis and underpins the vitality of the works on display.</p>
<p>The exhibition includes works by William Kentridge, Tracey Rose, Wangechi Mutu, Otobong Nkanga, Yinka Shonibare CBE, Pascale Marthine Tayou, Ana Mendieta, Kehinde Wiley, Andres Serrano, Aida Muluneh, Mwangi Hutter, Hank Willis Thomas, Adrian Piper, Lubaina Himid, Roger Ballen, Zanele Muholi, Phyllis Galembo.</p>
<h4>Practical Information</h4>
<p><a href="http://www.bozar.be">BOZAR</a> Centre for Fine Arts, Rue Ravensteinstraat 23, 1000 Brussels<br />
Open: Tuesdays to Sundays, 10am &gt; 6pm<br />
Closed: Mondays</p>
<p><b>Tickets</b>: € 10</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://brussels-express.eu/chokwe-mask-lost-during-angolas-civil-war-recovered-and-added-to-incarnations-exhibition/">Chokwe mask lost during Angola&rsquo;s civil war is recovered and added to IncarNations exhibition</a> appeared first on <a href="https://brussels-express.eu">Brussels Express</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>Searching for lost time: The Bather by the Belgian Painter Léon Spilliaert</title>
		<link>https://brussels-express.eu/searching-for-lost-time-the-bather-by-the-belgian-painter-leon-spilliaert/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Margareta Hanes]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 22 Jul 2019 14:04:23 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Art]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cult'Art]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Philosophy]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://brussels-express.eu/?p=34640</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Time is elusive. It slips through our fingers unrelentingly, with cold indifference and an unwavering sense of superiority. We chase</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://brussels-express.eu/searching-for-lost-time-the-bather-by-the-belgian-painter-leon-spilliaert/">Searching for lost time: The Bather by the Belgian Painter Léon Spilliaert</a> appeared first on <a href="https://brussels-express.eu">Brussels Express</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Time is elusive. It slips through our fingers unrelentingly, with cold indifference and an unwavering sense of superiority. We chase it, always a step behind, enthralled by the glances it throws back at us.</p>
<p>Memories, regrets, promises, moments tinged with joy or sadness, all fill up our reservoir of time. The ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle has argued that time is tied to change, that is, to temporal relations that occur between events. In this sense, time is characterized by its journey. The passage of time, subject to variation and transformation, and we, eager to get as many glimpses of it as possible. It is perhaps because we cannot fathom time without change that we scroll repeatedly through social media feeds, even if a feeling of ennui ultimately creeps up on us. The constant newness, the large chunks of information that we ingest might contribute to the impression that time lasts longer. Until we slip into the familiar, and time shrinks up considerably.</p>
<p>The neuroscientist David Eagleman said that the difference in how we perceive time consists in the way we process information. The unfamiliar requires us to break down many tidbits of information, and this prolongs time. The familiarity of the world does exactly the opposite. Memories are scarcer, less noteworthy, so the allotted time decreases as well. There is a painting at the <em>Fin-de-Siècle</em> Museum in Brussels that depicts the comfort of monotonous routine quite accurately.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-34641" src="https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/D80CAE99-55D5-41F0-91CD-B3038BEDB738.jpeg" alt="" width="471" height="620" srcset="https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/D80CAE99-55D5-41F0-91CD-B3038BEDB738.jpeg 380w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/D80CAE99-55D5-41F0-91CD-B3038BEDB738-228x300.jpeg 228w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 471px) 100vw, 471px" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>In <i>The Bather</i> (1910), the Belgian Symbolist painter Léon Spilliaert (1881-1946) pictures a woman sitting on the edge of a street staircase. She gazes into what seems to be the sea. We cannot see her face, but from her slightly crooked back and right arm propped on the greyish-blue stair stone, we can sense a feeling of weariness invading the space around her. The waves resemble the passing of time, in a circular, linear, fluid motion. She does not seem to care either way, avoiding any direct involvement. It is only the little dog next to her, ears pointed up, that is curious enough to be a part of whatever happens around it.</p>
<p>“It is not that we have so little time but that we lose so much,” said the Stoic philosopher Seneca in <i>On the Shortness of Life</i>. He is a proponent of <i>otium</i>, leisureliness devoted to meaningful activities. Although Seneca encourages a retreat into philosophy, where introspection and intellectual pursuits are highly ranked, his primary focus is on leading an authentic life, free from vices that sink us into oblivion.</p>
<p>Procrastination is just one vice that we indulge in. The frenetic urge to do what does not need to be done is a welcome respite from the burden of busyness, the badge of honour we proudly display. Or so we tell ourselves, until procrastination and busyness become indistinguishable from each other.</p>
<p>We trifle with time at our behest. In the background, we hear the ticking sound of Mad Hatter’s watch from <i>Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland</i>. When we glance at it, we see that instead of the hour, it shows the day of the month, passing before our eyes.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://brussels-express.eu/searching-for-lost-time-the-bather-by-the-belgian-painter-leon-spilliaert/">Searching for lost time: The Bather by the Belgian Painter Léon Spilliaert</a> appeared first on <a href="https://brussels-express.eu">Brussels Express</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>Stéphane Mandelbaum: a tribute to the forgotten neo-expressionist artist at the Jewish Museum in Brussels</title>
		<link>https://brussels-express.eu/stephane-mandelbaum-a-tribute-to-the-forgotten-neo-expressionist-artist-at-the-jewish-museum-in-brussels/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Margareta Hanes]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 16 Jul 2019 21:03:25 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Art]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cult'Art]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://brussels-express.eu/?p=34232</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>The first thing you notice is his long, sturdy face. Resentment and traces of fatigue nourish the slightly enlarged eyes,</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://brussels-express.eu/stephane-mandelbaum-a-tribute-to-the-forgotten-neo-expressionist-artist-at-the-jewish-museum-in-brussels/">Stéphane Mandelbaum: a tribute to the forgotten neo-expressionist artist at the Jewish Museum in Brussels</a> appeared first on <a href="https://brussels-express.eu">Brussels Express</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The first thing you notice is his long, sturdy face. Resentment and traces of fatigue nourish the slightly enlarged eyes, nose and lips. He is escaping the viewer’s gaze and gives the impression that his presence arises out of a sense of obligation. The slouched shoulders and crossed hands hanging down confirm the uneasiness of his inner world. The figure depicts the British painter Francis Bacon (<em>Dessin N°1</em>),  who Stéphane Mandelbaum (1961-1986) drew over and over again throughout his short life.</p>
<p>Distorted faces, pleasures of transgression, tormented souls inhabiting the bodies of thugs, prostitutes and war criminals is what connects the two artists together. In comparison to Francis Bacon, who received recognition in his mid-thirties with the <i>Three Studies for Figures at the Base of a Crucifixion</i>, an unsettling triptych with writhing creatures set against an orange background, Stéphane Mandelbaum remained on the margins of the art world even decades after his death. The lack of notoriety did not though hinder him from pursuing his passion for drawing, a creative way to compensate for dyslexia.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter  wp-image-34234" src="https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/ECF85CA7-E028-4F52-B064-F0F5225592E4.jpeg" alt="" width="750" height="748" srcset="https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/ECF85CA7-E028-4F52-B064-F0F5225592E4.jpeg 1186w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/ECF85CA7-E028-4F52-B064-F0F5225592E4-150x150.jpeg 150w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/ECF85CA7-E028-4F52-B064-F0F5225592E4-300x300.jpeg 300w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/ECF85CA7-E028-4F52-B064-F0F5225592E4-768x766.jpeg 768w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/ECF85CA7-E028-4F52-B064-F0F5225592E4-1024x1021.jpeg 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Portraits and images are paired with words, phrases and scribbles, predominantly in blue ballpoint pen, that are scattered all over the paper. Mandelbaum’s drawings are reminiscent of George Grosz’s caustic criticism of society and the raw gestural style of Jean-Michel Basquiat, however in a rather monochrome version. There is an outpouring of messages on violence, sex, Jewishness meant to shock, offend, outrage. Stéphane Mandelbaum draws you into a phantasmagorical world that goes beyond traditional western representations.</p>
<p>According to museum researchers, the amount of time that an average viewer spends contemplating a work of art ranges from 17 to 27 seconds. This time can be considerably extended when in front of one of Mandelbaum’s drawings. It is as if he is challenging you to explore and decipher his dreamlike compositions. Arthur Rimbaud, the enfant terrible that inspired him, alongside others whose life also ended tragically, such as the writer Pierre Goldman and film director Pier Paolo Pasolini, is pictured in a mountain-like shape with his head turned towards the viewer and scrawls flowing down around it. This gives the impression of a hunchback, and Rimbaud indifferently carrying its burden.</p>
<p>Francis Bacon was quoted as saying that “The feelings of desperation and unhappiness are more useful to an artist than the feeling of contentment, because desperation and unhappiness stretch your whole sensibility.” The work of Stéphane Mandelbaum attests to this belief. He preferred traumatic experiences and the unacceptable to fuel his art. It was maybe because his art became his life that he entered the criminal underworld as an art thief. The precocious child of Arié Mandelbaum, painter and art teacher, and Pili Mandelbaum, illustrator, remained true to this raw expressive style until the bitter end.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://brussels-express.eu/stephane-mandelbaum-a-tribute-to-the-forgotten-neo-expressionist-artist-at-the-jewish-museum-in-brussels/">Stéphane Mandelbaum: a tribute to the forgotten neo-expressionist artist at the Jewish Museum in Brussels</a> appeared first on <a href="https://brussels-express.eu">Brussels Express</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>Turning Art into Human Rights at the Fine Arts Museum in Brussels</title>
		<link>https://brussels-express.eu/turning-art-into-human-rights-at-the-fine-arts-museum-in-brussels/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Admin BE]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 14 Jul 2019 07:35:35 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Art]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BOZAR]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cult'Art]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Rights]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://brussels-express.eu/?p=34092</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>You may have been to the Royal Museums of Fine Arts several times, but have you ever looked at the</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://brussels-express.eu/turning-art-into-human-rights-at-the-fine-arts-museum-in-brussels/">Turning Art into Human Rights at the Fine Arts Museum in Brussels</a> appeared first on <a href="https://brussels-express.eu">Brussels Express</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>You may have been to the Royal Museums of Fine Arts several times, but have you ever looked at the artworks as essays in justice, torture, freedom of expression, women’s rights, equality, the death penalty and other human rights? Amnesty International and The Museum have created a new series of videos together, suitable for both seasoned and new visitors to the museum. It’s a chance to look at familiar masterpieces through the lens of 10 essential human rights.</p>
<p>Accessible, gripping conversations between art experts and magistrates, journalists, and professors of human rights will include you in the best dinner party conversation, showing you art in a new light. Learn how famous artists have considered basic human rights over the centuries and be amazed that the same issues &#8211; torture, justice, children’s rights, the death penalty, freedom of expression &#8211; are still being grappled with 500 years later.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter  wp-image-34096" src="https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/A03B6ED7-8EFB-415D-BFC8-1C6873C2CD38.jpeg" alt="" width="701" height="287" srcset="https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/A03B6ED7-8EFB-415D-BFC8-1C6873C2CD38.jpeg 640w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/A03B6ED7-8EFB-415D-BFC8-1C6873C2CD38-300x123.jpeg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 701px) 100vw, 701px" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>10 different human rights are explored in 10 video conversations, each with one expert from the art world discovering a masterpiece with an expert from the world of human rights chosen by Amnesty Belgium.</p>
<p>The video series was the idea of Althea Williams, a former director at Amnesty Belgium and Geraldine Barbery from the Royal Museums of Fine Arts. The video series which has just been launched will enable first time and seasoned visitors to the Fine Art Museum to share the mindset of the artist and experience his or her perception, while fast-forwarding to our present world and seeing its relevance.</p>
<p>The masterpiece <i>The Judgement of The Emperor Otto</i> explores the notion of Justice, with a magistrate from the International Court of Human Rights talking with an art historian. Their conversation addresses the question of equal access to justice, fair trials and the notion of violence in justice, all of which are vitally important today.</p>
<p>Another work explored in the Justice conversations is <i>Susanna and the Elders, </i>painted in 1567. They addressed the question of the abuse of power by authority, its destructive influence on the fabric of society and the role of the citizen in opposing it.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter  wp-image-34097" src="https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/45FEFD15-BE27-42DC-815D-0BAF0196FA7D.jpeg" alt="" width="832" height="619" srcset="https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/45FEFD15-BE27-42DC-815D-0BAF0196FA7D.jpeg 1457w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/45FEFD15-BE27-42DC-815D-0BAF0196FA7D-300x223.jpeg 300w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/45FEFD15-BE27-42DC-815D-0BAF0196FA7D-768x572.jpeg 768w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/45FEFD15-BE27-42DC-815D-0BAF0196FA7D-1024x763.jpeg 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 832px) 100vw, 832px" /></p>
<h4></h4>
<h4>Freedom of Expression</h4>
<p><i>The Death of Marat</i> is a masterpiece by Jacques-Louis David, painted at the time of The Reign of Terror during the French Revolution. Marat, murdered in his bath by Charlotte Corday, defends freedom of expression but, once in power himself, abuses that right, inciting hatred and is instrumental is sending many political opponents to their death. In David’s iconic painting, which can also be seen as political propaganda, Marat is depicted as an idealised martyr. The questions asked during this conversation concern the importance of freedom of expression: 1400 journalists have been assassinated in the past 25 years for their work and only 13% of the world’s population enjoys a free press today. And what are the limits to this freedom? Can you see Marat as a hero of the French Revolution, or can you see him as someone who abused his right to freedom of expression?</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter  wp-image-34098" src="https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/2AE3607F-9FED-4C89-BECD-C4FA02879B1C.jpeg" alt="" width="591" height="993" srcset="https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/2AE3607F-9FED-4C89-BECD-C4FA02879B1C.jpeg 978w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/2AE3607F-9FED-4C89-BECD-C4FA02879B1C-178x300.jpeg 178w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/2AE3607F-9FED-4C89-BECD-C4FA02879B1C-768x1291.jpeg 768w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/2AE3607F-9FED-4C89-BECD-C4FA02879B1C-609x1024.jpeg 609w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 591px) 100vw, 591px" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>The 10 videos are free to download and are in French or Dutch with subtitles (English subtitles will be added during the summer months) and they are suitable for all ages and levels.</p>
<p>In addition, starting from September, on the first Wednesday of every month at 2pm there will be a tour by the museum guides.</p>
<p>To find out more about this, please click <a href="https://www.amnesty.be/infos/expos/fine-arts-et-droits-humains-aux-musees-royaux-des-beaux-arts/expoMRBAB?lang=fr">this link</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://brussels-express.eu/turning-art-into-human-rights-at-the-fine-arts-museum-in-brussels/">Turning Art into Human Rights at the Fine Arts Museum in Brussels</a> appeared first on <a href="https://brussels-express.eu">Brussels Express</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>Bruegel Meets Street Art</title>
		<link>https://brussels-express.eu/bruegel-meets-street-art/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Admin BE]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 18 Jun 2019 05:22:24 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Art]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bruegel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cult'Art]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://brussels-express.eu/?p=33005</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>visit.brussels, together with the Brussels collective Farm Prod and with the support of the City of Brussels, has developed a</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://brussels-express.eu/bruegel-meets-street-art/">Bruegel Meets Street Art</a> appeared first on <a href="https://brussels-express.eu">Brussels Express</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-33006" src="https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/8CA7B7A9-5EAD-4460-870A-3653C1773C95.jpeg" alt="" width="2224" height="774" srcset="https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/8CA7B7A9-5EAD-4460-870A-3653C1773C95.jpeg 2224w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/8CA7B7A9-5EAD-4460-870A-3653C1773C95-300x104.jpeg 300w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/8CA7B7A9-5EAD-4460-870A-3653C1773C95-768x267.jpeg 768w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/8CA7B7A9-5EAD-4460-870A-3653C1773C95-1024x356.jpeg 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2224px) 100vw, 2224px" /></p>
<p><a href="http://visit.brussels">visit.brussels</a>, together with the Brussels collective Farm Prod and with the support of the City of Brussels, has developed a “PARCOURS Street Art” tour honouring the great Flemish master Pieter Bruegel in the heart of the capital. No fewer than 14 frescoes now adorn a number of facades in the Marolles district.</p>
<p>Brussels and Bruegel are inextricably linked. The artist spent part of his life in Brussels and is also buried there. Brussels was a great source of inspiration for him: it was where he painted two thirds of his works. His powerful patrons lived a few minutes’ walk from his house, on the Mont des Arts. Today it houses an important collection of Bruegel’s work; after the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium own the largest collection of Bruegel’s paintings, and the Royal Library holds no fewer than 90 engravings.</p>
<p>Brussels felt a duty to hold several events to mark the 450th anniversary of the death of this world-renowned artist. visit.brussels, in collaboration with the collective Farm Prod, and with the support of Delphine Houba, Alderwoman of Culture, Tourism and Big Events in the city of Brussels, has also paid homage to Pieter Bruegel by developing a street art journey through the city centre.</p>
<p>From today, visitors can admire no fewer than 14 frescoes along the journey, created by who artists who are members of the collective, as other well as well-known artists: the perfect opportunity to discover Bruegel, in another time.</p>
<p>These 14 frescoes will be an integral part of the PARCOURS Street Art tour, which has been developed since 2013 by the City of Brussels. “How fortunate we are to be able to incorporate frescos inspired by Bruegel&rsquo;s work in the PARCOURS Street Art tour, which is composed of nearly 150 works,” says Delphine Houba, Alderman of Culture, Tourism and Major Events in the City of Brussels. She added: “The City of Brussels is proud to host this tour in the Marolles district, which is home to the cultural centre that bears the artist’s name!”</p>
<h4>Additional information</h4>
<p><strong>PARCOURS Street Art tour</strong></p>
<p>Since 2013, the City of Brussels has played an important role in promoting urban art as a vector for social cohesion that is accessible to all. In recent years, the City has increased the frequency of such initiatives. Calls for projects, orders, and walls for free expression are all included in PARCOURS Street Art. These works, carried out both on the initiative of the City and the “personal” initiatives of others, are listed on the website <a href="http://www.parcoursstreetart.brussels">www.parcoursstreetart.brussels</a>. There are currently 150 frescoes included in this database that provides information on the works such as biographies on the street artists. This project to beautify the city is continuously growing and will be enriched in the coming months with a dozen new projects.</p>
<p><b>Farm Prod (BE)</b></p>
<p>FARM PROD, set up in Brussels in 2003, is a collective that brings together several visual artists around various creative projects. While they all have the same artistic background, each member has, over time, developed their own expertise. Today the team unites painters, graffiti and graphic artists, web-designers, illustrators and video makers. For 15 years they have used their different energies to organise and take part in sociocultural events, both in Belgium and abroad.</p>
<p>For more information on Bruegel visit: <a href="http://www.bruegel.brussels">www.bruegel.brussels</a></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://brussels-express.eu/bruegel-meets-street-art/">Bruegel Meets Street Art</a> appeared first on <a href="https://brussels-express.eu">Brussels Express</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>Review of Jef Geys’ new photo exhibition at Bozar: “The Tour de France 1969 of Eddy Merckx”</title>
		<link>https://brussels-express.eu/review-of-jef-geys-new-photo-exhibition-at-bozar-the-tour-de-france-1969-of-eddy-merckx/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Thomas Mollernielsen]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 18 May 2019 08:30:19 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Art]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BOZAR]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cult'Art]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://brussels-express.eu/?p=31617</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>A new exhibition of Jef Geys’ (1934-2018) photographic work opened this Friday, May 17th, at Bozar. The exhibition – which</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://brussels-express.eu/review-of-jef-geys-new-photo-exhibition-at-bozar-the-tour-de-france-1969-of-eddy-merckx/">Review of Jef Geys’ new photo exhibition at Bozar: “The Tour de France 1969 of Eddy Merckx”</a> appeared first on <a href="https://brussels-express.eu">Brussels Express</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A new exhibition of Jef Geys’ (1934-2018) photographic work opened this Friday, May 17th, at Bozar. The exhibition – which is free to the general public and is scheduled to run until the 1st of September – consists of 67 never-before-published photos taken by the famous Belgian artist over a period of two weeks during the 1969 Tour de France. The photos are complemented by the curators’ addition to the collection of the original front pages of two Belgian national newspapers, dated July 21, 1969: the exact day after Eddy Merckx won the Tour for the first time and also, of course, the day after the first moon landing.</p>
<p>For the most part, the photographs feature a miscellany of largely anonymous individuals – including policemen, spectators, and amateur and professional cyclists – appearing in anonymous French and Belgian towns, mostly performing mundane tasks such as walking, waiting, eating, and talking. Such photographs are (very) occasionally juxtaposed with photos of the great Merckx himself, similarly engaged in mostly quotidian endeavours. (Given that his name appears in the exhibition’s title, I was slightly surprised to discover that a mere four photographs in the entire collection actually feature the great Belgian.)</p>
<p>Interestingly, the official press release for the exhibition assures us that such juxtaposition is, in fact, a classic Geysian trope: “The theme of [Geys’] photographic reportage is not to show the glamour of the race toward triumph, but the merging of the unusual and the everyday in the life of the cyclist. In his art Jef Geys weaves different levels together and puts them on an equal footing … e.g. a famous racing cyclist next to an ordinary cycling enthusiast. In this exhibition Geys again demonstrates his mastery of the contrast of High and Low.”</p>
<p>Similarly, the mini-biography of Geys published in the exhibition’s flyers notes that Geys “explor[ed] every aspect of his daily environment without ranking them”, before remarking that “photography has always been Jef Geys’ defining medium”, and that Geys possessed “an acute sense for artistic production”. These sentiments were also echoed by Sylvie Boulanger, one of the two co-curators of the exhibition, who stated yesterday at the exhibition’s opening ceremony that: “Geys was incredible. He took everything and elevated it to the level of art. He abolished hierarchies.”</p>
<p>Suggestive though many of these interpretative remarks undoubtedly are, they are also – upon reflection – seriously confusing. For one thing, “contrasting” the themes of “High and Low” culture would appear to be a distinct artistic endeavour to “placing [them] on an equal footing”, for the straightforward reason that that which is “equal” cannot coherently be “contrasted”. (In other words: to <i>contrast</i> dissimilar themes or images is not equivalent to <i>equalising</i> that which is superficially or initially distinct.) Furthermore, Geys’ tendency to “not rank” different aspects of his environment is similarly difficult to square with the thesis that he also possessed an “acute sense for artistic production” – for surely such an acute sense can only reasonably be said to exist in someone in possession of the relevant ability to determine what, exactly, is artistically significant.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-31618" src="https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/98F39747-FAA0-437E-B1F7-C98A84B381F2.jpeg" alt="" width="650" height="650" srcset="https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/98F39747-FAA0-437E-B1F7-C98A84B381F2.jpeg 650w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/98F39747-FAA0-437E-B1F7-C98A84B381F2-150x150.jpeg 150w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/98F39747-FAA0-437E-B1F7-C98A84B381F2-300x300.jpeg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Moreover – and most crucially – the claim that “photography has always been Jef Geys’ defining medium” is extraordinarily difficult, if not impossible, to reconcile with the fact that so many of the photos are manifestly amateurish in quality: in addition to a large proportion of them featuring nothing of any discernible interest whatsoever, many of them are blurred, a few are oddly tilted, and some even feature major obstacles in the camera’s line of sight.</p>
<p>Surprisingly, such an assessment of the photographs’ quality is one that is shared by the other co-curator of the exhibition, Francis Mary, who noted at the opening ceremony yesterday that, although the photos are “not professional”, this “does not matter” because “what is important is the recreation of the atmosphere and the scenery of a particular moment in history.” But such a remark – though contentious in and of itself – in turn only raises another obvious question: How are we supposed to admire this work by Geys – someone who, the exhibition’s press release assures us, was a “pioneer in the Belgian art world” and “one of the most influential post-war Belgian artists” – when he was, according to one of the exhibition’s own curators, a complete and utter amateur in his own “defining medium”?</p>
<p>Arguably, the only (somewhat) interesting part of the Jef Geys exhibition has little to do with Jef Geys at all, but instead involves the aforementioned archived front pages of the two Belgian newspapers chosen by the curators, namely <i>De Standaard</i> and <i>Het Nieuwsblad</i>. Most notably, <i>De Standaard</i>’s front page fails to even mention Eddie Merckx, but instead devotes all of its space to covering the moon landing, while <i>Het Nieuwsblad</i> gives roughly equal space to both the moon landing and Eddie Merckx’s Tour victory.</p>
<p><i>Het Nieuwsblad</i>’s implicit suggestion of parity between these two events will strike many readers as utterly preposterous, perhaps even comically so. However, given the nature and overall theme of the exhibition, an alternative interpretation naturally suggests itself: Are the curators, perhaps, simply attempting to reinforce the Geysian theme of contrasting (or equalising) “High and Low”, this time by juxtaposing what is arguably the highest pinnacle of human scientific achievement with the relative low of a victory in an annual sporting event that few people outside – or for that matter, even inside – Western Europe care(d) about?</p>
<p>(For what it’s worth, my own view is that such interpretative charity would be unwarranted &#8211; or, at the very least, as unwarranted as the interpretative charity that the curators appear willing to extend to Geys.)</p>
<p>During her remarks yesterday, Ms Boulanger related a comment that Geys once made to her in a private email: “My mother [wrote Geys] gave me some good advice: be wise… and the rest I’ve forgotten.” Vapid though this advice is, one can’t help escape the feeling that, had Ms Boulanger truly adhered to it, this exhibition probably wouldn’t exist at all.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://brussels-express.eu/review-of-jef-geys-new-photo-exhibition-at-bozar-the-tour-de-france-1969-of-eddy-merckx/">Review of Jef Geys’ new photo exhibition at Bozar: “The Tour de France 1969 of Eddy Merckx”</a> appeared first on <a href="https://brussels-express.eu">Brussels Express</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>Pukkelpop to collaborate with Flemish government and other institutions to fund art exhibitions</title>
		<link>https://brussels-express.eu/pukkelpop-to-collaborate-with-flemish-government-and-other-institutions-to-fund-art-exhibition/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Admin BE]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 10 May 2019 17:19:27 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Art]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Entertainment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Festival]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://brussels-express.eu/?p=31321</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Pukkelpop, one of Belgium’s most popular annual music festivals, will for a second year in a row be collaborating with</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://brussels-express.eu/pukkelpop-to-collaborate-with-flemish-government-and-other-institutions-to-fund-art-exhibition/">Pukkelpop to collaborate with Flemish government and other institutions to fund art exhibitions</a> appeared first on <a href="https://brussels-express.eu">Brussels Express</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Pukkelpop, one of Belgium’s most popular annual music festivals, will for a second year in a row be collaborating with the Flemish government, as well as a selection of museums and other institutions, to fund an art exhibition at its upcoming 2019 festival. The project is called “ART United” and, as in 2018, its aim will be to offer young people the opportunity to discover a variety of different art pieces outside of a traditional museum setting.</p>
<p>“By integrating art, design and heritage in the context of a youth festival, we want, among other things, to ensure that museum visits are once again an integral part of youth culture,” explained the Flemish Minister of Culture, Sven Gatz.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-31322" src="https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/BA2E327D-813A-4600-890C-23CD9AD0AD65.jpeg" alt="" width="711" height="835" srcset="https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/BA2E327D-813A-4600-890C-23CD9AD0AD65.jpeg 940w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/BA2E327D-813A-4600-890C-23CD9AD0AD65-255x300.jpeg 255w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/BA2E327D-813A-4600-890C-23CD9AD0AD65-768x902.jpeg 768w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/BA2E327D-813A-4600-890C-23CD9AD0AD65-872x1024.jpeg 872w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 711px) 100vw, 711px" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>This year’s exhibition will held in Pukkelpop’s ART Yard, located right in front of the main stage. It is anticipated to be significantly larger than last year’s exhibition.</p>
<p>Thus far, artists Christian Bakalov, Sietske Van Aerde, Clara Lissens, Gerard Herman, Müge Yilmaz and Benjamin Vandewalle have all promised to contribute to the project.</p>
<p>Institutional contributors include the Museum of Contemporary Art in Antwerp, the M Museum-Leuven, the Fashion Museum in Hasselt, the Museum of Fine Arts in Ghent, the Mu.ZEE Ostend, and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Ghent (SMAK).</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://brussels-express.eu/pukkelpop-to-collaborate-with-flemish-government-and-other-institutions-to-fund-art-exhibition/">Pukkelpop to collaborate with Flemish government and other institutions to fund art exhibitions</a> appeared first on <a href="https://brussels-express.eu">Brussels Express</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>Kunstenfestivaldesarts 2019 is coming to Brussels this weekend</title>
		<link>https://brussels-express.eu/kunstenfestivaldesarts-2019-is-coming-to-brussels-this-weekend/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Admin BE]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 09 May 2019 21:03:41 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Art]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cult'Art]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Festival]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://brussels-express.eu/?p=31238</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Kunstenfestivaldesarts launched the program of the 24th festival edition on April 2 at 6pm. From May 10 until June 1,</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://brussels-express.eu/kunstenfestivaldesarts-2019-is-coming-to-brussels-this-weekend/">Kunstenfestivaldesarts 2019 is coming to Brussels this weekend</a> appeared first on <a href="https://brussels-express.eu">Brussels Express</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Kunstenfestivaldesarts launched the program of the <b>24th</b> festival edition on April 2 at 6pm. From <b>May 10</b> until <b>June 1</b>, Kunstenfestivaldesarts invites artists from different parts of the world and Brussels to redefine the boundaries of theatre, dance and performance and to enter into dialogue with local initiatives, creating occasions for reflection about the present and the city we live in.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter  wp-image-31240" src="https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/04CD77B6-1227-4768-9826-CFD90CFFCCBC.jpeg" alt="" width="681" height="682" srcset="https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/04CD77B6-1227-4768-9826-CFD90CFFCCBC.jpeg 1665w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/04CD77B6-1227-4768-9826-CFD90CFFCCBC-150x150.jpeg 150w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/04CD77B6-1227-4768-9826-CFD90CFFCCBC-300x300.jpeg 300w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/04CD77B6-1227-4768-9826-CFD90CFFCCBC-768x769.jpeg 768w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/04CD77B6-1227-4768-9826-CFD90CFFCCBC-1022x1024.jpeg 1022w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 681px) 100vw, 681px" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Kunstenfestivaldesarts also hosts a <i><b>Free School</b></i>, dedicated to the sharing of artistic practices, knowledge and reflections. This school addresses a crucial question: if we were to invent a school today, what would its curriculum be, and who would it be for? All the school activities are free of charge and aim to accommodate a multiplicity of possible participants.</p>
<p><figure id="attachment_31243" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-31243" style="width: 801px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-31243 " src="https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/FF10A8F5-8C76-4CC5-A6B0-32E96AA2A54D.jpeg" alt="" width="801" height="1202" srcset="https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/FF10A8F5-8C76-4CC5-A6B0-32E96AA2A54D.jpeg 1200w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/FF10A8F5-8C76-4CC5-A6B0-32E96AA2A54D-200x300.jpeg 200w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/FF10A8F5-8C76-4CC5-A6B0-32E96AA2A54D-768x1152.jpeg 768w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/FF10A8F5-8C76-4CC5-A6B0-32E96AA2A54D-683x1024.jpeg 683w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 801px) 100vw, 801px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-31243" class="wp-caption-text">Photo by Gérald Kurdian</figcaption></figure></p>
<p>The <b>festival centre</b> and box office will be located at <b>Recyclart</b>. During the festival, Recyclart will be a place to meet and share food, with parties every Friday and Saturday. La Raffinerie / Charleroi Danse, Cinemaximiliaan and Decoratelier are partners of this centre in Rue de Manchester, hosting projects and becoming central elements of the Free School for ten days and during the festival’s opening and closing nights. The general idea of the festival centre is not to create a new initiative, but to empower an emerging and already existing cultural hub.</p>
<p><figure id="attachment_31242" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-31242" style="width: 814px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-31242 " src="https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/CB439558-6964-4122-BF2B-0BA8EC2C3969.jpeg" alt="" width="814" height="543" srcset="https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/CB439558-6964-4122-BF2B-0BA8EC2C3969.jpeg 1200w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/CB439558-6964-4122-BF2B-0BA8EC2C3969-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/CB439558-6964-4122-BF2B-0BA8EC2C3969-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/CB439558-6964-4122-BF2B-0BA8EC2C3969-1024x683.jpeg 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 814px) 100vw, 814px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-31242" class="wp-caption-text">Photo by Bea Borgers</figcaption></figure></p>
<p>The Kunstenfestivaldesarts in 2019, that is <b>39</b> artistic projects, <b>19</b> world premieres, <b>185</b> performances, <b>3</b> exhibitions, <b>46</b> artists from <b>24</b> different countries and <b>29</b> venues in Brussels.</p>
<p>You will find the complete programme on the <a href="http://www.kfda.be/en">website</a> and in the <a href="http://www.kfda.be/assets/7467">programme book</a>.</p>
<p>More information about this edition can be found in the press kit. Ticket sale starts on <b>April 12</b>. From this date, you can book your press tickets via <b>press@kfda.be</b>.</p>
<p><figure id="attachment_31244" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-31244" style="width: 810px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-31244 " src="https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/801AB710-C9D8-4B00-B707-1F6D5E55693C.jpeg" alt="" width="810" height="540" srcset="https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/801AB710-C9D8-4B00-B707-1F6D5E55693C.jpeg 1200w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/801AB710-C9D8-4B00-B707-1F6D5E55693C-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/801AB710-C9D8-4B00-B707-1F6D5E55693C-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://brussels-express.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/801AB710-C9D8-4B00-B707-1F6D5E55693C-1024x683.jpeg 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 810px) 100vw, 810px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-31244" class="wp-caption-text">Photo by Bea Borgers</figcaption></figure></p>
<h4>Practical info: festival center &amp; box office</h4>
<p><u>Recyclart</u></p>
<p>Rue de Manchester 13-15 Manchesterstraat, 1000 Brussels</p>
<p>+ 32 (0)2 210 87 37 / tickets@kfda.be</p>
<p><a href="http://www.kfda.be">www.kfda.be</a></p>
<p>Start ticket sale: 12.04.2019</p>
<p>Tickets online: <a href="http://www.kfda.be/tickets">www.kfda.be/tickets</a></p>
<p><u>Box office opening hours</u></p>
<p>12.04–9.05.2019, Tuesday–Saturday 12:00–19:00</p>
<p>10.05–01.06.2019, every day 12:00–20:00</p>
<p><u>Parties</u></p>
<p>10.05.2019 Opening Party, 23:00 with i.a. Islam Chipsy &gt; @Recyclart</p>
<p>01.06.2019 Closing Party, 23:00 &gt; @Recyclart</p>
<p>Every Friday &amp; Saturday, 23:00–&#8230; &gt; @Recylcart</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://brussels-express.eu/kunstenfestivaldesarts-2019-is-coming-to-brussels-this-weekend/">Kunstenfestivaldesarts 2019 is coming to Brussels this weekend</a> appeared first on <a href="https://brussels-express.eu">Brussels Express</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
			</item>
	</channel>
</rss>
