3 contemporary artists with fresh perspectives
Plus a peek at Belgium's most stylish new aircraft.
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Happy Friday, friends. We’re back today following a brief workload-imposed absence.
This week, I’m highlighting 2 artists you might already know about, followed by an up-and-coming one.
But first, please allow me a couple announcements:
Following feedback from several readers of this newsletter, I’ve created a group for us to discuss and share events in — on LinkedIn. I see this as the first step in building a community of art lovers within our little expat bubble.
Starting in April, I will also be hosting events for us — beginning with a guided tour of the Bozar’s ‘When We See Us’ exhibit on April 19th.
You are warmly invited (but not obligated) to join the group, invite your friends, and get this party started.
Now, here are 3 interesting contemporary artists whose work you can see in current or upcoming exhibits. I find them very intriguing.
Hans Op de Beeck
These grey, eery sculptures are part of a recently opened exhibit at the KMSKA, the Royal Museum in Antwerp. I haven’t seen it myself yet, but the dark backdrop and monochromatic selection seem to create quite the immersive experience.
I’ve come across these grey sculptures in various art fairs; they are mesmerizing when observed up close. This artist is quite well-known outside of Belgium as well.
This show is on until August.
Berlinde De Bruyckere
You might have seen these legs on posters all around Brussels.
Flemish artist Berlinde de Bruyckere makes these haunting, deeply realistic sculptures. She works with wax, wood and horsehair to create organic, unsettling forms.
This new show at the Bozar, also closing in August, features work from the past two decades. According to the Bozar’s description, she “draws on various sources of inspiration: Christian iconography, classical mythology and the works of the Flemish masters.”
Diane Marie Uwase
I first came across Diane’s work during the inaugural Biennale of Women in Art, last year. Since then, she signed with Antwerp’s Pedrami Gallery and has been featured in several shows across Belgium.
Diane is a promising emerging artist that will likely become a household name in a few more years. Considering she learned to paint on her apartment floor during the pandemic, this trajectory is particularly interesting.
Diane’s work will be featured in Pedrami’s booth at Art Brussels next month, and in a solo show coming up in May (exact dates to be announced soon).
I’m excited to highlight more artists in the coming issues.
Artwork of the week
This week I received a press release from the Atomium’s communications team (which exists apparently, yes) informing me that the monument will now appear on a few Brussels Airlines planes.
Here is the picture they sent:
It turns out they held a contest last year, following which a few designs were selected to highlight monuments of Belgian importance.
The Atomium “celebrates the country's spirit of creativity, innovation, and pride,” the press release says. Never you mind that this aircraft now looks like the toy plane you would purchase while aboard a real plane.
I do applaud the creative way of highlighting cultural heritage however, and look forward to soon boarding a plane adorned with packages that were lost in the mail.
What’s going on?
A lovely exhibit of portraits by Brussels-based artist Natalie Arsenow, on display until April 2nd at the Brussels Parliament. More details here.
“What’s in a name?” asks a new play from the European Theater Club, premiering April 7th in Brussels.
The Queen Elizabeth Music Chapel is hosting its annual gala concert at Bozar on April 2nd, tickets still available.
More classical music concerts at the Astoria Hotel throughout April.
A “Storytelling Night” at The Bridge Theater Studio on April 5th, featuring some of your favorite Schuman Show faces.
This weekend, I’ll be heading to the Art Nouveau antique fair tomorrow and the Design Market at Gare Maritime on Sunday.
See you there,
Ana
Good to have you back :-)