Brussels Gallery Weekend 2020: An Eye on the Future

“Given the current context it has been a real challenge to make our event sustainable. It is thanks to some great cooperation, and the enormous encouragement and trust placed in us by our public and private partners, that the Brussels Gallery Weekend can go ahead this year. We are delighted, and this once again demonstrates just how dynamic and resilient the contemporary art sector is in Brussels. Furthermore, we hope to maintain the loyalty and trust of the public.” Sybille du Roy de Blicquy, Director Brussels Gallery Weekend 2020

Now approaching its 13th edition, Brussels Gallery Weekend is shedding a light on the skills and talent of not only local artists, but their gallerists as well. The 2020 edition will showcase the resilience of the city’s art sector, which is now cautiously opening back up to the public, and is setting its sights firmly on the future by bringing new ideas to the programme and a number of new initiatives.

The first initiative that most visitors will notice is the programme’s new website, where they can book their time slot in advance and even visit galleries, and creative workshops, from the comfort of their own home. In order to ensure everyone has a safe experience, each venue will have clear signage displaying the maximum number of people allowed in the space, and the same goes for each of the 38 galleries that are participating. “This year, Brussels Gallery Weekend will make it possible for artists and gallery owners to reconsider their way of working,” says Olivier Meessen from the gallery Meessen/De Clercq. “Can we keep working as before? How can we welcome our visitors and guide them? What will be the future scope and impact of contemporary artistic creation? These are very pertinent questions, and can lead to some interesting insights. The most important challenge today is to embrace change and create a climate where we can find a better way of living together”.

Of the 38 galleries that are on view during Brussels Gallery Weekend, there are some exhibitions which stand out. First time gallery participant, FRACAS, is collaborating with Atelier Jespers to host an exhibition featuring more than 30 years of sculptor Anton Reijnders’ creations in the former House & Studio of Oscar Jespers. The exhibition will also feature a presentation of nine emerging contemporary ceramists curated by Reijnders, especially for the occasion. Sorry We’re Closed’s exhibition with Eric Croes titled “7” presents his vision of the 7 cardinal sins: 7 unique sculptures, 7 fantastical totems and 7 unsettling presences, and Felix Frachon Gallery’s “Rendez-vous avec A” features the work of last year’s Generation Brussels participant David Tobon. Last, but not least, TLmag’s sister gallery Spazio Nobile is holding an exhibition titled “Les Ignorants”, which features the photographic and design works of Lionel Jadot and Serge Leblon.

Another notable change is the way “Generation Brussels” is being set up. The exhibition, has become a voice for upcoming generations of young Brussels artists over the last three years — has been transformed into a shop-window city trail. Moving from a planned exhibition at the Vanderborght building, Evelyn Simmons (this year’s curator) decided to have the exhibition focus not only on the talents of these local artists, but on the public space and peripheral contexts that they find themselves in. Now, the exhibition is spread out the works of 12 local artists in vacant shop windows throughout the city — connecting different Brussels neighbourhoods with one another. Having said that, the real heart of the exhibition can be found in the Sablon neighbourhood, where complex images by Siemen van Gaubergen will be on show in Rue Lebeau. This city trail also connects BGW’s off-programme and public events, which has guided tours, projections of video works at Qbic Hotel, performance works like Ruben Montini’s Questo Anonimato E’ Sovversivo (This Anonymity is subversive) — a vast hand embroidery piece that will be the result of the cooperation between people living across the EU —  and online panel talks hosted by HART & Brussels Gallery Weekend.

Brussels Gallery Weekend will be held across various locations in Brussels from September 3rd to September 6th, 2020. For more information and to reserve your spots, check out their website: https://www.brusselsgalleryweekend.com/

@brusselsgalleryweekend

Cover Image: Brussels Gallery Weekend 2019, Credit: StokkStudio