Friday 18 – Monday 21 April 2008
Daily from 11am to 7pm
Preview and Vernissage on Thursday 17 April (by invitation only)
Finissage on Monday 21 April, from 11am to 10pm
Venue: Brussels Expo – Hall 1 & 3
Place de Belgique 1 – 1020 Brussels
On 18 April, the 26th edition of artbrussels opens its doors. This contemporary art fair is one of the most important of its kind in Europe. 179 galleries from 24 countries are participating in the event. Works of more than 2 000 artists will be presented: paintings, sculptures, accessories, drawings, installations, photos
and videos.
Artbrussels is expecting over 30 000 visitors.
artbrussels – the European platform for contemporary art
Internationally renowned for its innovative profile, artbrussels brings together participants of 24 different nationalities. This year the Belgian galleries represent 24 percent, in other words 42 galleries. There are also 29 galleries from France, 21 from Germany, 12 from the United Kingdom and 11 from the US. For the US and the United Kingdom this is a sharp increase in comparison to the previous editions of the fair. The new European countries are also making a modest appearance. Among the famous Belgian artists whose work is represented at the fair are Pol Bury, Wim Delvoye, Jan Fabre, Michel François, Hans Op de Beeck, Panamarenko, Walter Swennen, Koen van den Broek, Jan Vercruysse, and Marthe Wéry. Artists from abroad include Louise Bourgeois, Wang Du, Damien Hirst, Julian Opie, Tony Oursler, Robin Rhode, Ed Ruscha, Sam Samore, Charles Sandison, Thomas Schütte, Cindy Sherman, Stephen Shore, Beat Streuli, Su-Mei Tse, Franz West, Erwin Wurm, Gilberto Zorio and Nam June Paik.
Organisation
Artbrussels is divided into three specific zones. The ‘Art Galleries’ zone consists entirely of established galleries (122), ‘Young Talent’ is aimed at young galleries (42), and ‘First Call’ groups young galleries taking part in the fair for the very first time (14). The number of participating galleries and artists is consciously limited to guarantee the quality of what is on offer and to show a coherent presentation.
Ephemeral Fringes
Visitors to artbrussels can also see an exhibition project named ‘Ephemeral Fringes’, based on an idea by the curator, Filip Luyckx, director Sint Lucas gallery. It consists of small-scale pieces, spread throughout the fair and created especially for the event by a range of different artists from Belgium and abroad. The creations are geared to the ephemeral timeframe, the complex structure and limited space of artbrussels. The contributions by following artists: Georges Adéagbo (Benin), Michaël Aerts (Belgium), Philip Metten (Belgium), Veronica Brovall (lSweden / Germany), Rainer Ganahl (Austria), Fabrice Gygi (Switzerland), Honoré d’O (Belgium), Nedko Solakov (Bulgaria) and Koen Vanmechelen (Belgium) are a form of commentary on the fair events and can consist of a supplement, a footnote or margin note. The installation by Philip Metten will be the backdrop for several contemporary music concerts and debates during the fair. In short, interaction and reflection.
The “by artists for artists” café
The HISK candidates (the postgraduate training college for fine arts in Ghent) will set up the “by artists for artists” café, situated on the mezzanine of hall 3. As an alternative to the restaurant and the brasserie, this funky café offers visitors the chance to make many artistic discoveries. The artists have also taken on the tasks of decorating the café with their own works of art, and of serving their customers: fresh (Belgian) beers are on the menu!
Animations at the fair:
DEBATES:
Saturday, April 19, 5pm
Ephemeral Fringes
Moderated by Filip Luyckx (artistic director Sint-Lukas Galerie). Panel members : Adam Budak (Curator Kunsthaus, Graz and Manifesta 7), Charlotte Laubard (director CAPC Contemporary art museum Bordeaux), Paco Barragan (curator and art critic) and Rainer Ganahl (artist and participant of “Ephemeral Fringes”).
Saturday, April 19, 3pm
Brussels Biennal
Moderated by Barbara Vanderlinden (director Brussels Biennial) . Panel members: Bart De Baere (director MuKHA, Antwerp), Charles Esche (director Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven), Maria Hlavajova (director BAK, Utrecht), Paul Willemsen (director Argos, Brussels).
Saturday, April 19, 11:30 – 13:30
Holy Fire: Exhibiting and Collecting New Media Art
Moderated by Patrick Lichty (USA). Panel members: Alexei Shulgin (RU), Olia Lialina (RU/DE), Steve Sacks (bitforms, New York), Wolf Lieser (DAM, Berlin), Stéphane Manguet (Numeriscausa, Paris), Philippe Van Cauteren (SMAK, BE), Domenico Quaranta (Milano) and Yves Bernard (Brussels).
CONCERTS:
Thursday, April 17, 8 pm
Noiselab
Friday, April 18, 5pm
Eric Tillemans & Jurgen Sickboy
Monday, April 21, 8 pm
Tim Vanhaemel
More info on the artbrussels website:
Catalogue
Practical information
Looking forward to welcoming you in Brussels!