(The Hole, New York)
Wednesday 17 April, the first edition of Art Brussels under the new director Katerina Gregos was kicked off. Your curious AGENDA team went to preview the - very amusing and dynamic - annual look and buy festival of contemporary art – yes, all 187 galleries and over 2,000 artists from across the world –, and came back with this sample of the abundance our eyes feasted upon!
Art Brussels in pictures
(Allan McCollum at JGM Galerie Paris)
Art Brussels is as international and as big as you can get at Brussels Expo. Halls 1 and 3 are jam-packed with work by the likes of Jan Fabre, William Klein, Damien Hirst, Carlos Aires, Michael Wolf, Tony Oursler, Fred Bervoets, Sol Lewitt, Gilbert & George, Robert Devriendt, Panamarenko, Martin Parr, Christian Boltanski, Dan Van Severen, Hiroshi Sugimoto, Wim Delvoye, etc.
Art Brussels is as international and as big as you can get at Brussels Expo. Halls 1 and 3 are jam-packed with work by the likes of Jan Fabre, William Klein, Damien Hirst, Carlos Aires, Michael Wolf, Tony Oursler, Fred Bervoets, Sol Lewitt, Gilbert & George, Robert Devriendt, Panamarenko, Martin Parr, Christian Boltanski, Dan Van Severen, Hiroshi Sugimoto, Wim Delvoye, etc.
But it’s a very Brussels fair as well. Dany Danino, Kendell Geers, Michel François, and Nicolas Provost are all there, and if you’ve missed out on some of the exhibitions the many galleries in Brussels have to offer throughout the year, you can find a small retrospective/foretaste right here. Performance artist He Yunchang, who burnt the clothes off his body at Bozar only last weekend, is occupying the stand of Feizi Gallery; Veronica Brovall’s ceramics with balls are picked up again by Hopstreet Gallery; Gert Jan Kocken, currently to be seen at Motive Gallery, is part of their stand; Kristof Kintera's Revolution is to be seen again at D+T Project, Simon Schubert, whose exhibition of wonderfully folded paper is opening at Bodson-Emelinckx today, can be previewed at Art Brussels; Gavin Turk's Temple of Knowledge, with the mechanical fortune-teller Rosy Lee, is introduced at AEROPLASTICS contemporary; and Aliceday is showing the lot in what appears to be a gadget-filled wooden construction.
(Lara Gasparotti at Stieglitz19)
(Marie Rosen at Rossicontemporary)
But there’s more: Lara Gasparotti’s intriguing photographs at Stieglitz19, Marie Rosen’s beautiful works at Rossicontemporary, VidalCuglietta’s Pinocchio, John De Andrea’s Naked Truth at the stand of Sorry We’re Closed, etc.
But there’s more: Lara Gasparotti’s intriguing photographs at Stieglitz19, Marie Rosen’s beautiful works at Rossicontemporary, VidalCuglietta’s Pinocchio, John De Andrea’s Naked Truth at the stand of Sorry We’re Closed, etc.
(VidalCuglietta)
(John De Andrea at Sorry We’re Closed)
(Nermin Er at Galeri Nev, Istanbul / Tadashi Kawamata at mulier mulier, Knokke)
(Spazio Visivo’s Landscape at Mario Mazzoli, Berlin)
There is a striking focus on materials, with a lot of fabrics, tapestries, wood, concrete, paper, metal, works in volumes. Figurative works and craftsmanship in general seem to be ruling over the more abstract and conceptual works. On the other hand, there isn’t as much photography as we had expected to find. And some concepts do survive: if you’re into framed pranks, then dig in – there are plenty to be found at Art Brussels.
There is a striking focus on materials, with a lot of fabrics, tapestries, wood, concrete, paper, metal, works in volumes. Figurative works and craftsmanship in general seem to be ruling over the more abstract and conceptual works. On the other hand, there isn’t as much photography as we had expected to find. And some concepts do survive: if you’re into framed pranks, then dig in – there are plenty to be found at Art Brussels.
(Nandan Ghiya at 10 Chancery Lane Gallery, Hong Kong)
Art Brussels has an airport-feel to it. With food carts, stewardesses, people looking for a tax-free deal. A transit space made as comfortable as possible, but also not as pleasantly intimate as you would like. Which is not surprising since the fair is expecting a madding crowd.
Art Brussels has an airport-feel to it. With food carts, stewardesses, people looking for a tax-free deal. A transit space made as comfortable as possible, but also not as pleasantly intimate as you would like. Which is not surprising since the fair is expecting a madding crowd.
(Gerard Herman)
This edition of Art Brussels offers plenty for everyone. Alongside a playful game of hide-and-seek - whether it be animals featuring in a steamy bal masqué or a sign wishing to be seen by claiming the opposite - there are fabulous doll costumes by the American (performance) artist Melissa Ichiuji, comic strip-like dinosaurs, words given form - or is it form translated into language -, and other works by extravagant storytellers to be discovered.
This edition of Art Brussels offers plenty for everyone. Alongside a playful game of hide-and-seek - whether it be animals featuring in a steamy bal masqué or a sign wishing to be seen by claiming the opposite - there are fabulous doll costumes by the American (performance) artist Melissa Ichiuji, comic strip-like dinosaurs, words given form - or is it form translated into language -, and other works by extravagant storytellers to be discovered.
(Dionisis Kavallieratos at Bernier/Eliades Athens)
(Samuel Vanhoegaerden, Knokke)
(Armen Eloyan, 50-60 million years ago at Tim Van Laere)
(Laure Prouvost at MOT International)
(Melissa Ichiuji at Sophie Scheidecher, Paris)
But our two favourites really outdid themselves this time. Pieter Vermeersch got to transform the complete stand of Galerie Perrotin with his magnificent paintings, that display an enchanting, gradual "shifting" of colour. Hans Op de Beeck's efforts at the stand of Galleria Continua resulted in nothing less than a small exhibition with the incredible sculptural models Settlements and The Writer's Island.
But our two favourites really outdid themselves this time. Pieter Vermeersch got to transform the complete stand of Galerie Perrotin with his magnificent paintings, that display an enchanting, gradual "shifting" of colour. Hans Op de Beeck's efforts at the stand of Galleria Continua resulted in nothing less than a small exhibition with the incredible sculptural models Settlements and The Writer's Island.
(Hans Op de Beeck)
(Pieter Vermeersch)
To kick back for a while you can always head off to The Cinema or The Stage for a good seat with a nice view. And if those spaces don’t have what you’re looking for, then you’re bound to get satisfaction on the Zinneke Terrace, tasting the Belgian street food on offer there.
In any case, this tasty edition of Art Brussels is running until Sunday. We suggest you dig in!
Photos © Heleen Rodiers
ART BRUSSELS • 18 > 21/4, 12 > 19.00 (18/4: > 22.00), €12/15, Brussels Expo, Belgiëplein 1 place de Belgique, Laken/Laeken, www.artbrussels.be
To kick back for a while you can always head off to The Cinema or The Stage for a good seat with a nice view. And if those spaces don’t have what you’re looking for, then you’re bound to get satisfaction on the Zinneke Terrace, tasting the Belgian street food on offer there.
In any case, this tasty edition of Art Brussels is running until Sunday. We suggest you dig in!
Photos © Heleen Rodiers
ART BRUSSELS • 18 > 21/4, 12 > 19.00 (18/4: > 22.00), €12/15, Brussels Expo, Belgiëplein 1 place de Belgique, Laken/Laeken, www.artbrussels.be
Read more about: Expo , Events & Festivals
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