03 september 2024, Flor Linckens
This weekend: the new gallery season kicks off in Antwerp
This weekend marks the beginning of the new gallery season in Antwerp. On 7 and 8 September, several leading galleries will unveil their latest exhibitions, offering a perfect opportunity to explore the city's diverse art scene.
FRED&FERRY – wandelgangen — 07/09/24 - 05/10/24
At FRED&FERRY, you can explore the exhibition 'wandelgangen', featuring the work of Thé van Bergen. In addition to his career as an artist, Van Bergen has also taught at institutions like KASK in Ghent and AKV | St. Joost in Breda. This exhibition brings together his vision with works by a new generation of artists, including Leyla Aydoslu, Tom Poelmans and Charlie De Voet. The show not only pays tribute to Van Bergen's impressive oeuvre but also highlights his influential role as a teacher. Expect powerful, sometimes challenging works that prompt reflection on the nature of art and the process of artistic development.
At Eva Steynen Gallery, Roeland Tweelinckx presents his latest work in the exhibition 'Bending the Rules of Functionality'. Tweelinckx is known for his playful and intelligent manipulation of everyday objects, blurring the lines between art and reality. In this exhibition, he transforms seemingly mundane elements like electrical outlets, walls and cables into artworks that compel you to look at the world around you with fresh eyes. This exercise in perception, where humour and poetry converge in a minimalist style, offers a refreshing perspective on how we experience functionality and aesthetics.
Shoobil presents '…..to Imparadise…..', a solo exhibition by Marilou van Lierop that draws you into a world of subtle yet profound complexity. Van Lierop is renowned for her ability to balance recognisable imagery with a surreal, almost elusive atmosphere. Her paintings resemble puzzle pieces within a larger, chaotic world where nothing is as it seems. What makes this exhibition particularly intriguing is her use of unconventional surfaces, such as convex climbing wall elements and inflatable objects. These hybrid worlds, where human and animal forms intersect, are steeped in iconographic references, inviting a deeper exploration of identity and symbolism.
For those interested in art history and the avant-garde movements of the 1950s and 1960s, 'Taptoe' at Callewaert Vanlangendonck is a must-see. This exhibition, which opened on 1 September, honours the artistic center Taptoe, which played a crucial role in the development of the Belgian art scene. In 1955, young Belgian artists Serge Vandercam and Maurice Wyckaert, along with a group of others, published the pamphlet Droit de Réponse as a reaction against the dominance of geometric abstraction and certain cultural institutions. Shortly thereafter, they were involved in the founding of Taptoe: an artistic center, exhibition space and literary café on the Place Oud Korenhuis in Brussels. This resulted in a movement without a manifesto, collective theoretical reflection, or a search for a specific "style" or new "ism." The exhibition features works by icons such as Pierre Alechinsky, Hugo Claus and Asger Jorn.
Schonfeld Gallery showcases 'A PRO POT, IV', a group show curated by Trees De Mits that focuses on ceramics and sculptures. The exhibition brings together works by artists Bert Huyghe, Erwin Keustermans, Hans Segers, Ilse Van Roy, Kris Fierens, Maria Roosen, Michael De Ruyck, Pei-Hsuan Wang, Rein Dufait and Sine Van Menxel. The show offers a varied and engaging perspective on the aesthetics and functionality of ceramic art.
Amber Geuns presents her vibrant and playful show 'WHAT THE B*BBLE' at De Wael 15. Geuns is known for her use of bold colours and pop culture references, creating a direct yet deeper dialogue with the viewer. Her work is visually striking but always infused with a sharp edge of critique and self-reflection. Geuns explains, "My current work focuses on the exploration of exaggerated defensiveness and fragile power dynamics. By examining the complexity of these themes, I invite the viewer to reflect on the fleeting nature of security. Inspiration for my works is drawn from various sources, from history and mythology to personal experiences and contemporary culture. I enjoy the contrast between light and dark, strength and vulnerability, and explore the tension that arises when seemingly disparate elements come together."
At Gallery Sofie Van de Velde, you can immerse yourself in two remarkable solo exhibitions, each pushing the boundaries of contemporary art in their own way. In their Nieuw Zuid space, the gallery presents a show by Charline Tyberghein, while in their Zuid gallery, you can view the work of Shirley Villavicencio Pizango.
PLUS-ONE Gallery kicks off the weekend with two solo exhibitions. In 'Creole Collidoscope', Hadassah Emmerich takes you on a journey through vibrant and powerful images that explore the cultural complexity of Creole identity. Additionally, the gallery presents the work of Florian Tomballe in the exhibition 'Sculptures and Drawings'. Tomballe is known for his introspective and often mystical sculptures, in which he explores the human condition.
