Cultural Compass: Ground-breaking graphic artist, sculptures frozen in time and a welcome to spring
Every Sunday, Belga English picks its favourite events from the cultural agenda. This week: Jules De Bruycker's art still turns heads, Hans Op de Beeck's dreamlike sculptures and a celebration of spring with the Norouz fesitval.
Jules De Bruycker: Master of Observation, 22 March-29 June, MSK, Ghent
The Museum of Fine Arts Ghent (MSK) is shining a spotlight on this extraordinary artist. Showcasing 150 exceptional works, the exhibition highlights De Bruycker’s remarkable technical mastery, paired with an unbridled power of observation and imaginative originality, qualities that make him a singular figure in the art world.
De Bruycker emerged as one of Belgium’s most ground-breaking graphic artists in the first half of the 20th century. Yet until now, a key aspect of his oeuvre - his drawn works - has remained largely underexplored. This exhibition seeks to change that.
Drawing extensively from De Bruycker’s personal collection, along with loans from various museums and private collectors, the MSK presents a comprehensive view of his lesser-known yet equally captivating sketches and drawings.
Thematically, De Bruycker is best known for his keen, often satirical observations of daily life. He masterfully captures human behaviour, in groups or as individuals. The scene is set on bustling streets, at weekly markets, in the theatre or within the walls of a church. With just a few precise lines, he distills his subjects to their essence, casting a sharp, sometimes caricatural, and even merciless gaze on the quirks and follies of those around him, including himself.
Hans Op de Beeck: Nocturnal Journey, 22 March-17 August, KMSKA, Antwerp
Hans Op de Beeck presents his first major exhibition at KMSKA, transforming the space into a dreamlike, sculptural landscape.
The monochrome grey sculptures, frozen in time as if covered in ash, capture fleeting moments of human existence. Op de Beeck’s work does not seek grandeur but instead finds beauty in the poetry of the everyday.
Life-size figures stand alongside distorted scales, evoking the surreal nature of dreams. Characters embody different life stages and emotions, while animals, objects and architecture create familiar yet ambiguous settings, triggering personal memories in each viewer.
Festival Norouz, 22 March, Muntpunt, Brussels
Norouz, meaning “new day”, marks the arrival of spring and the return of light. Celebrated around 21 March, this ancient festival is an important tradition in Iran, Kurdistan, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan and Afghanistan.
Like New Year’s celebrations, Norouz is a time for renewal: homes are cleaned and decorated, new clothes are worn and families gather to share food, exchange gifts and welcome the season of growth.
At the Norouz Festival at Muntpunt, these vibrant traditions, rituals and symbols will be open to the public. Discover cultural tables from Afghanistan, Iran, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and the Yazidi community in Belgium. Enjoy Persian dance and song workshops, taste delicious traditional dishes, sip hot tea and immerse yourself in music, storytelling and colourful handmade crafts.
Don't miss: Brussels Museums Nocturnes runs until 24 April. A selection of museums open every Thursday evening from 18:00 until 22:00.
(MOH)
#FlandersNewsService | Nocturnes 2024 La Maison des Arts © PHOTO ERIC DANHIER
Ongoing events
Antwerp
COMPASSION, MAS
Family Happiness, Red Star Line
Panamarenko: Infinite Imagination, KMKSA
Dürer: Master of the Renaissance, Museum De Reede
Exhibitions at FOMU
Brussels
Berlinde De Bruyckere: Khorós, Bozar
Alechinsky: Pinceau Voyageur, Villa Empain
When We See Us, Bozar
Leuven
Grace Schwindt: A History of Touch, Museum M
Sigefride Bruna Hautman, Museum M
Ostend
Testerep, Venetian Galleries
Other cultural coverage this week
