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What's on in Brussels - Archives
Tuesday, December 8th 2009
8 December 2009 - 21 February 2010. The work of Hec Leemans was first published in the daily newspaper Het Volk in 1969. Leemans, best known for creating the character 'Bakelandt', has always been prolific in his output and shows no signs of slowing down; his comic strip series F. C. De Kampioenen has been adapted into a hugely popular TV show and continues to break viewing records. The Belgian Comic Strip Center (BCSC) is currently celebrating the work of this artist, who quite literally tells viewers his story in pictures. Attracting more than 200,000 visitors a year, the BCSC is one of the premier tourist destinations in Brussels. It opened in 1989 and is situated in the city centre. Tues-Sun 10.00-18.00 more
Thursday, September 17th 2009
17 September 2009 - 14 February 2010. As part of Brussels' continuing celebration of all things Chinese, the rarely-opened Dynasty building in the Mont des Arts has been converted into a Chinese Tea House. Visitors are encouraged to enjoy the subtlety of the tea ceremony, listen to traditional Chinese music and sample some eastern cuisine. As well as the tea tasting sessions, there are concerts, film screenings, dancing lessons and calligraphy workshops. The Dynasty building is the head quarters of the 'europalia.china' which also acts as the festival information point. Tues-Sun 11.00-18.00 more
The Other World: Puppet Theatre in China
Wednesday, October 28th 2009
28 October 2009 - 24 January 2010. Puppet theatre is a well-established traditional art form in China, ingrained in every strata of society, both rural and urban, and is viewed seriously in comparison to puppetry in the western world. The sarcasm and criticism directed at the establishment from the likes of Punch and Judy are decidedly absent from Chinese puppetry. 'The Other World' casts light on the rich diversity of Chinese puppet theatre; it examines characters such as Sun Wukong, the magical monkey king, and reveals the mystery behind the ancient myths. more
Tuesday, November 3rd 2009
Attracted by its surging economy and rich oriental culture, the western world has never been this interested in China. However, how much do we really know about this vast country and its people? What is the reality behind our clichéd view of this great land? CHINA@BOZAR offers a chance to peep behind the curtain and enjoy an illuminating and educational glimpse of Chinese life, past and present. The 'Son of Heaven' exhibition focuses on 50 centuries of Chinese power while 'The State of Things' sheds light on the contemporary Asian art markets of Beijing and Brussels. In addition, the Chinese modern art world is represented by musicians, film-makers, actors and writers. more
Thursday, October 22nd 2009
22 Oct 2009-14 Feb 2010. Hailed as a 'blockbuster' exhibition, 'The Mandarin's Three Dreams' is running parallel to the Europalia Festival of which China is the guest of honour. The exhibition closely evaluates Mandarin culture through a study of associated objects such as books and porcelain. Divided into two sections, the first examines the Manchu conquest of Ming China in the 17th century while the second concentrates in a more conceptual manner on a series of paintings and dreams alluded to in Chinese literature. more
Saturday, September 19th 2009
19 Sept 2009 - 29 Jan 2010. This unusual exhibition seeks to offer a form of huge family tree to the countless Brussels citizens descended from immigrants. Many of them are the grandchildren of foreigners who came to the city in their droves three generations ago. The questions being asked are in relation to who these people were, why they came to Brussels and how they lived. This exhibition, organised by the city archives, attempts to answer these questions with documents and images from its extensive collection. Descendants also enrich the exhibition by giving personal testimonies. For opening times see: www.opt.be more
Tuesday, September 1st 2009
Until 3 January 2010. The Royal Museum for Central Africa is host to an exhibition of 180 traditional tribal masks, one hundred of which come from the museum's own extensive collection. The remaining 80 are on loan from the Musée du quai Branly in Paris, the Ethnography Museum of Stockholm, the Pigorini Museum in Rome and private collections in Belgium. Amongst the vintage masks are modern installations by a selection of contemporary artists including Romuald Hazoumé, Freddy Tsimba, Barthélémy Toguo and Dominique Zinkpé. In addition to the exhibition, there is a studio where children can create their own masks. Tues-Fri 10.00-17.00, Sat-Sun 10.00-18.00 more
Friday, May 1st 2009
1 May - 1 October 2009. The Museum of Fantastic Art is the rather wacky brainchild of Brussels-butcher-turned-curator Michel Dircken who has allowed his fantastical imagination to run riot. Dircken's museum display includes everything from witches and wizards to mummies and aliens, and a myriad of oddities besides. The museum is open annually between May and October and showcases both permanent and temporary exhibitions, always focusing on the bizarre. Weekends only, Sat & Sun 14.00-17.00 more
Thursday, June 18th 2009
18 June 2009 - 10 January 2010. Born in Antwerp in 1913, Willy Vandersteen was a celebrated comic artist and a prominent figure in the founding of Flemish comic books. His career was long and his output prolific; over 50 years he published more than 1,000 comic albums which sold over 200 million copies internationally. Renowned for the mass commercialisation of his work, he became known as the 'Walt Disney of the Low Countries', while Tintin's creator Hergé referred to him as the 'Brueghel of the comic strip'. Vandersteen worked right up until his death in 1990. Brussels' Comic Strip House pays homage to the artist with a retrospective exhibition of his work which includes his characters Bob and Bobette, the Red Knight and Robert and Betrand. Tues-Sun 10.00-18.00 more
Friday, July 10th 2009
10 July - 13 Sept 2009. This installation of sculpture and photography by Jan De Cock pays tribute to photographer Jean-Pierre Beauviala who pioneered the development of the 16mm Aäton camera in the 1930s and influenced succeeding generations. Although Jan De Cock is relatively young he has become well-regarded in the Belgian art scene and has already exhibited in London's Tate Modern and the MoMA in New York. 'Repromotion' follows the series 'Denkmal' and sees each room treated as a sequence in an imaginary film, with the artist drawing heavily from cinematic processes. The exhibition will later be shown at the Magasin de Grenoble in 2010. more