Retaining its youthful profile as a discovery fair, Art Brussels, one of Europe’s most original fairs, celebrates its 50th anniversary. On this occasion, between 19 and 22 April, we can expect lots of highlights and many additional events. See what Contemporary Lynx marked as must-see shows in the town. Obviously, we will look for shows by Polish artists and exhibitions of our favourite galleries. Lynx Team is also delighted to announce our presence at the Art Brussels Fair. The new issue of Contemporary Lynx Magazine in print will have its premiere at our solo stand number M6.
Where to start the art marathon in Brussels?
Art Fair: Art Brussels
Dates: Open from Friday 20 April until Sunday 22 April 2018
Preview: Thursday 19 April 2018
Address: Tour & Taxis, Avenue du Port 86C, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
Description: This year’s edition will include 147 galleries from 32 countries, with nearly a quarter of the exhibitors showing for the first time.
The fair has three clear sections, aligned with its profile:
- DISCOVERY focuses on young, emerging and lesser-known artists showing recent works (2015-2018). In this section, we are looking forward to seeing London-based l’étrangère with the presentation of work by Joanna Rajkowska. The gallery will be presenting a selection of Joanna Rajkowska’s on-going Painkillers series, exploring the artist’s interest in the paradoxical interrelation of military weapons and pharmaceuticals. In this section, you can also find Amsterdam–based tegenboschvanvreden with the presentation of works by Cristina Lucas and Anna Ostoya and Derouillon gallery from Paris representing visual artist Przemek Pyszczek.
- PRIME focusses on established artists from modern to contemporary. Among others, we can see Belgian Harlan Levey Projects (C20 stand) which will be their first time at the Prime section. Last year, Harlan Levey Projects was selected as a winner of the ‘Discovery Prize’. This year, they will present works by Haseeb Ahmed, Marcin Dudek, TR Ericsson, Ella Littwitz and Emmanuel Van der Auwera.
- REDISCOVERY is dedicated to art from 1917 to 1987. The section presents living or deceased artists that are under-recognised, under-estimated or forgotten.
Art Fair: special programme
Today, all the major art fairs promote themselves through an ambitious curatorial agenda, often created in collaboration with renowned institutions and awarded curators. Art Brussels is no different. As Anne Vierstraete (the Managing Director of Art Brussels) says: “Our flagship artistic project reflects on a long-term collaboration with HISK (High Institute for Fine Arts, in Ghent), resulting in the exhibition Mystic Properties, under the lead of esteemed curator Elena Sorokina. Many of the ideas around the notions of possessing and exhibiting art addressed by the exhibition concept are especially interesting to be developed within the context of a fair. Alongside this, the fair has commissioned artist Philippine Hoegen for an original film entitled Crossed Wires, which explores the internationally recognised distinctiveness of the vibrant Brussels art scene, from 1968 until today.”
Large-scale sculptures at Tour & Taxis
Eight monumental sculptures will be open by the entrance to the fair. The large-scale artworks by renowned artists and emerging talents, represented by participating galleries, will be on display outdoors, on a 3000 m² esplanade at the industrial site of Tour & Taxis.
Inspiring / Inspired: Women in the Belfius Art Collection
Belfius Wealth Management, principal partner of the fair, will present Inspiring / Inspired: Women in the Belfius Art Collection, an exclusive series of works specially selected for Art Brussels and on display in the Belfius Lounge. The show will include significant works by female artists such as Lili Dujourie, Marthe Wéry, Berlinde De Bruyckere and Anne- Mie Van Kerckhoven, as well as their male counterparts, including Michaël Borremans, Paul Delvaux, Rik Wouters and Luc Tuymans.
What to see in the city:
Exhibition: Melancholia
Date: From 15 March to 19 August 2018
Address: Avenue Franklin Roosevelt 67, B – 1050 Brussels
Description: The exhibition ‘Melancholia’ explores issues such as nostalgia for ancient forms and a bygone era, the depiction of solitude, ruins, and passing time. Curated by Louma Salamé.
Artists: Tatiana Wolska, Etel Adnan, Manal Al Dowayan, El Anatsui, Farah Atassi, Abdelkader Benchamma, Barbara Bloom, Joseph Beuys, Christian Boltanski, Pascal Convert, Eli Cortiñas, Giorgio De Chirico, Paul Delvaux, Marlene Dumas, Lionel Estève, Jef Geys, Alberto Giacometti, Geert Goiris, Mimmo Jodice, On Kawara, Martin Kippenberger, KRJST Studio, René Lalique, Marwan, Mathieu Mercier, Melik Ohanian, Claudio Parmiggiani, Giuseppe Penone, Constant Permeke, Félicien Rops, Marius-Ernest Sabino, Norbert Schwontkowski, Lucile Sevin, Kiki Smith, Léon Spilliaert, Samuel Yal, Rémy Zaugg, Lamia Ziadé.
© Claudio Parmiggiani
Senza Titolo, 2009
Book, plaster cast, clock
50 x 70 x 30 cm
Pièce unique
N° Inv. CP/271011/005
Venue: Wiels, Contemporary Art Centre
Exhibition: Unexchangeable
Dates: From 19 April to 12 August 2018
Opening: 18 April 2018, 18:30-22:00
Address: Avenue Van Volxemlaan 354, 1190 Brussels
Description: The show will focus on an artwork’s value, drawing on a selection of art-historical, museum-quality works from the 1980s and 1990s in Belgian private collections.
Artists: Miroslaw Balka, Katharina Fritsch, Louise Lawler, Cindy Sherman, Sherrie Levine, Cady Noland, Richard Prince, Robert Gober, Haim Steinbach, Jack Goldstein, Guillaume Bijl, Wim Delvoye, Alexander Kosolapov, Bernard Bazile, Bazile Bustamante, François Curlet, Philippe Parreno, John Knight, Félix González-Torres, Matt Mullican, Jim Shaw, David Hammons, Jimmie Durham, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Paul Thek, Timur Novikov, Philippe Thomas, Jef Geys, Jan Vercruysse, Lili Dujourie, Thierry De Cordier, Patrick van Caeckenbergh, Ann Veronica Janssens, Angel Vergara Santiago, Francis Alÿs, Gabriel Orozco, Franz West, Julião Sarmento, Yan Pei-Ming, Bodys Isek Kingelez, Chéri Samba.
Katharina Fritsch, Händler (Dealer), 2001. Polyester, Paint, 192 X 59 X 41 cm. Vanhaerents Art Collection, Brussel. Courtesy of Katharina Fritsch and VG Bildkunst. Photo: Nie Tenwiggenhorn, VG BildKunst.
Venue: Greylight Projects
Event: Current Residents and Associates
Dates: Wednesday 18 April / 17:00 – 22:00, from Thursday 19 April to Sunday, 22 April from 10:00 – 18:00
Brunch: Saturday 21 April from 11:00
Address: Rue de Brialmont 11, 1210 Saint-Josse-Ten-Noode
Description: Aimed at supporting emerging artists with studio and exhibition spaces. Open to the public, with 12 artists letting you get a glimpse of their creative workspaces. Among them Marcin Dudek.
Ben Kaufmann, A4 (2013-17), Courtesy the artist and MARTINETZ, Cologne
Venue: BOZAR Centre for Fine Arts
Exhibition: Fernand Léger, ‘Beauty is everywhere’
Dates: 09 February ’18 — 03 June ’18
Address: Rue Ravensteinstraat 23, 1000 Brussel
Description: BOZAR is devoting an exhibition to one of the best-known modern artists, and a passionate observer of a bustling century – Fernand Léger. His painting broke with artistic conventions and sought to transcribe the fragmentation and syncopated rhythm of a fast-moving society.
BOZAR Centre for Fine Arts, photo Yannick Sas
