Brussels Gallery Weekend 2022 A Dialogue Between Different Generations and Different Practices

After a quiet summer time, it’s time to get back on track with exciting journeys, following the footsteps of the best art. September will be full of artistic events. Traveling with Lynx this fall, first I would like to take you to Brussels. Between the 8th and 11th of this September, the city of Brussels will be overflown with contemporary art on the occasion of the 15th edition of the Brussels Gallery Weekend. This event is dedicated to art galleries, non-profit spaces, artists and collectors and will be celebrated across different art venues. The rich art programme curated by the BGW committee, under the directorship of Sybille du Roy de Blicquy, will allow people to discover both emerging and already established artists. 

On this occasion, I spoke to three different representatives of galleries taking part in the Brussels Gallery Weekend: Gwenvael Launay – Director of the Almine Rech gallery, Wauthier de Mahieu – Director of the Bernier Eliades gallery, and Julia Moreira – Director of the Mendes Wood gallery. We discussed the upcoming edition of the event, what we can see in their galleries and the current art landscape in Brussels. 

Gwenvael Launay – Almine Rech director 

Can you tell us a bit about your gallery?

Gwenvael Launay: Almine Rech opened its first gallery in 1997 in Paris and  in 2007 in Brussels, marking 15 years of presence in the European capital, and has since then opened new locations in London (2014), New York (2016) and Shanghai (2019).

The gallery has always been developing a program featuring established artists, Estates and emerging talents, creating a dialogue between different generations and different practices, that we are promoting around the globe in our gallery spaces and also at international art fairs.

What are you planning to show during this year’s Brussels Gallery Weekend?

GL: This year, we will present a solo exhibition by Gerasimos Floratos. This exhibition is conceived in two parts. The first one, titled “Maps”, is opens in Brussels on the occasion of the Brussels Gallery Weekend and the second one, titled “Hymn”, will take place in Pablo Picasso’s sculpture studio in Boisgeloup, (Gisors, France) opening end of October. Floratos’ work is influenced by his life in New York –  the energy, chaos and the charged atmosphere of the city and the globalized world.

Have you participated in the Brussels Gallery Weekend before? What makes it so unique?

GL: We have been participating in the Brussels Gallery Weekend since its creation, when the gallery opened in Brussels in 2007. It’s a unique moment in the year as it creates a synergy between all the galleries and the art scene in the city. International and European collectors = travel on that occasion to discover the exhibitions, as well as to visit the many private collections and artists studios in town. Since 2018, the BGW has also been curating an exhibition of emerging Belgian artists, a very interesting approach of exhibiting young talents that have no gallery representation yet.

How would you describe the art scene in Brussels?

GL: The Brussels art scene is very dynamic thanks to the presence of international and local galleries, as well as the non-profit spaces, such as the WIELS, La Loge or private initiatives open to the public, such as the Vanhaerents collection or the recently opened Cloud Seven space, to name a few.

Art collectors are really passionate, knowledgeable and are eager to discover new talents and support creation.

How did the pandemic and the war in Ukraine affect the way you work and the art world in general?

GL: The pandemic has confirmed the importance of online projects and also influenced the means of communicating with artists and collectors. A few years ago, we wouldn’t do studio visits through video calls but now it has become very easy and we got used to it. It will never replace a visit in person, of course, but it’s a great addition to be able to remain connected throughout the entire process of creation.

Artists have always been involved in defending freedom, and many projects and charities have been developed to respond to the war in Ukraine. But it’s still too recent to analyze the impact on the art world.

Wauthier de Mahieu (AF) – Bernier Eliades director 

Can you tell us a bit about your gallery?

Wauthier de Mahieu: Bernier/Eliades gallery was founded in 1977 in Athens and has since continued working dynamically in the field of contemporary art in Greece. During the gallery’s function, Jean Bernier and Marina Eliades have introduced numerous artistic talents to the Greek public, such as Arte Povera, Minimalism, Land and Conceptual Art and the younger generation of American and European artists.

Since 2016, they have opened a new space in Brussels, located in the Chatelain district. While they keep their curatorial core of historically established artists, they have expanded their practice with a different programming vision, carrying out longer and more specific projects. This experimental space serves as a platform for presenting young and upcoming international artists to the public. 

What are you planning to show during this year’s Brussels Gallery Weekend?

WdM: This year, for our participation at the Brussels Gallery Weekend, we will open an exhibition with small and larger paintings by Monique van Genderen. Monique was born in Vancouver but lives in works in Los Angeles now. She is part of many collections across the world and exhibited in multiple museums and galleries. Apart from being a painter, she’s also teaching at the UCSanDiego. We are very happy to present her first solo exhibition in Belgium.

Have you participated in the Brussels Gallery Weekend before? What makes it so unique?

WdM: We’ve been participating in the Brussels Gallery Weekend for many years now. At every edition, we are surprised by the number of visitors that are passing through all the galleries. Then, we are welcoming various people who differ from our normal clientele. The Brussels Gallery Weekend also marks the reopening of the art sector in Brussels, where all the passion of art joins together and celebrates the new start of events.

How would you describe the art scene in Brussels?

WdM: We are very lucky to be located here, in Brussels! The collectors have an extensive knowledge of the market, artists and the galleries. Artists are adventurous and courageous. Curators  always promote new and daring talents from all around and the aficionados are curious and eager to discover. It is pleasant to work surrounded by all these people day-to-day.

How did the pandemic and the war in Ukraine affect the way you work and the art world in general?

WdM: This is a very broad question. I wouldn’t compare a pandemic to a war. Both are make  humans suffer but in a very different way. Concerning the art sector, most of us were spared, compared to other sectors. It is obvious that we need to change how the art world works and this generation of artists, collectors, curators and galleries are actively and constantly remodelling and reinventing our sector.

---

Julia Moreira – Mendes Wood director 

Can you tell us a bit about your gallery?

Julia Moreira: Mendes Wood DM was founded in São Paulo in 2010 by partners, Felipe Dmab, Matthew Wood and Pedro Mendes, with the intent to exhibit international and Brazilian artists in a context conducive to a critical dialogue and cross-pollination. 

In 2017, Mendes Wood DM inaugurated its first European exhibition space in Brussels, founded in partnership with longtime friend and collaborator, Carolyn Drake Kandiyoti. Located on two floors of a historic townhouse in the Sablon, the gallery lends itself to curatorial projects and monographic exhibitions.

Most recently, we have opened a new gallery space in New York’s Tribeca neighborhood. The expansion is a natural evolution of the gallery’s presence in North America, emphasizing a meaningful contextualization of a conversation with the global South and affirming the gallery’s commitment to mounting significant exhibitions for a wider audience.

What are you planning to show during this year’s Brussels Gallery Weekend?

JM: During the 2022 edition of Brussels Gallery Weekend, we will host two solo shows by artists Miranda Fengyuan Zhang (on the first floor of the gallery) and Seulgi Lee (on the ground floor). Both artists are making new work specifically for this occasion, and these are their very first solo exhibitions in Belgium.

Have you participated in the Brussels Gallery Weekend before? What makes it so unique?

JM: Yes, we’ve been participating in Brussels Gallery Weekend since our establishment in Brussels in 2017.

From our perspective, it has always been one of the highlights of the Belgium yearly art calendar. Galleries and institutions put a lot of thought into the exhibitions and events they host during this period.

I also think the timing is fortunate, as everyone has just returned from their summer holidays. There is a high energy going around and a “back-to-school” atmosphere that is stimulating.

The strong local program combined with how easily accessible Brussels is from so many other places in Europe makes the Gallery Weekend here very compelling.

For me, as local gallerist, it is a pleasure to have such a vibrant moment happening around our gallery spaces, where we have our roots and place our daily efforts. We know lots of people who come during the Gallery Weekend will turn out to be returning visitors and that’s really special. 

How would you describe the art scene in Brussels?

JM: Brussels has a dynamic art scene, with many artists and galleries making their home here. There is also a history of extremely engaged collectors which is wonderful.

As I have mentioned, Brussels’ central location in Europe also makes it rather international and we see people from everywhere stopping by here.

At the same time, the city has a slower pace when compared to some other urban centers, like London or New York. This allows for people to have the bandwidth to participate more actively and meaningfully in the art scene.

From our experience of opening here over five years ago, the local scene is also very welcoming, for which we are super grateful.

---

Brussels Gallery Weekend 

8 – 11.09.2022

www.brusselsgalleryweekend.com