Party Tip: Art Brussels: The Party

(© Daniel Riera)

“Burn / For the art of parties / Burn / Under the heavy weather,” David Sylvian sang with Japan in the 1980s. Our weather is slowly but surely improving. But combining art and parties remains a tricky affair. The Catclub party concept wants to put an end to that once and for all.

On 20 April at the Solvay building in Elsene/Ixelles, the Catclub DJs are again organising Art Brussels: The Party, in essence an organic fusion of clubbing and exhibiting of the type that has been common in New York, London, Berlin, and Tokyo for years. The art is being provided by Hiroaki Umeda, the renowned Japanese artist-performer who is presenting his celebrated work Holistic Strata. In the work, Umeda creates a kind of optical illusion using sensors that manipulate particles of light. If international reviews are to be believed, Umeda creates an imaginative mix of installation and futuristic performance. Art lovers who would prefer to skip the party can still visit Holistic Strata – for free! – because Umeda is presenting a preview between 8 and 10 pm. The party? It is in the very capable hands of the coolest ladies of Brussels’s nightlife, namely the ladies of L-Fêtes and Lady Jane from Catclub. And to top it all off, you are even getting Kim Ann Foxman, all the way from New York City.

Kim who? Well, you undoubtedly know Foxman from her work with Hercules and Love Affair, the amazing New York house outfit that had a hit with “Blind”, sung by Antony Hegarty. Or you might know her from that song with Layo & Bushwacka!, “Can’t Hurt You”. Or from her inspired remix of “Sunset” by The xx. This indie-fashionista and jewellery designer is garnering enormous praise for her own dance productions that breathe new life into chilled 1980s electro. You can count on it that she will bring the sweet & sticky sound of the Big Apple to Brussels. Or to use the words of Sylvian and “The Art of Parties” again: “Once I was young / Once I was smart / Now I’m living on the edge of my nerves”. Enjoy it while you can. Partying is an art form in and of itself.

For an update on Koen Van Dijck’s party tips, listen to Deeb Club on FM Brussel (Friday, 11 pm) or go to deebclub.tumblr.com.

Art Brussels: The Party • 20/4, 23.00 (20 > 22.00: preview of “Holistic Strata” by Hiroaki Umeda), Bâtiment Solvaygebouw, Prins Alberstraat 44 rue Prince Albert, Elsene/Ixelles, www.artbrussels.be, www.catclub.be