Belgium’s Cultural Institutions Prepare for a Vibrant Season
As Belgium transitions from summer festivals to indoor cultural events, museums, theatres, and opera houses are gearing up for a dynamic season ahead.
This week, Belga English highlights significant cultural events, including the 37th edition of Open Monument Day, an exploration of Congolese history in Brussels, and an exhibition examining themes of humor and loss.
Open Monument Day, September 14
This Flanders-wide event invites visitors to uncover the architectural gems that lie hidden in the region. Antwerp serves as the guest city for this year’s edition, themed “In stijl!” (In Style!), which emphasizes architectural heritage and encourages viewers to appreciate the façades, buildings, parks, and sites they might usually overlook.
More than 170 activities are slated across Antwerp alone, featuring 40 buildings ranging from Gothic to Modernist designs, including the finalists for the Erfgoedjuweel (Heritage Jewel) prize. The event will also showcase religious heritage with highlights like the Baroque Carolus Borromeus Church and the solitary tower of Sint-Laurentius Church amidst shipping containers in Wilmarsdonk.
Additionally, the Art Deco centenary will be marked at various sites, including De Panne, Aarschot, Sint-Niklaas, and Antwerp’s Institute of Tropical Medicine. With a range of themed activities, the day aims to be family-friendly and free of charge.
Bruxelles, la Congolaise, until December 13, Migration Museum
This exhibition at the MigratieMuseumMigration underscores the vibrant Congolese presence in Brussels, revealing a unique migration history through photographs, artworks, music, and personal narratives. As a city representing over 180 nationalities, Brussels serves as a mosaic of migration, and the museum encourages visitors to share their experiences, adding to the city’s evolving narrative.
Rekindling, until December 7, Be-Part Kortrijk
Joëlle Dubois’s latest exhibition combines significant works from private collections with new paintings, sculptures, and her first video installation. This exhibition reflects a turning point, highlighting themes of identity, loss, and memory.
While Dubois has historically focused on vibrant and humorous portrayals of personal experiences within today’s individualistic context, her recent works depict a more introspective tone, shifting to muted colors and restrained forms. The exhibition captures the artist’s journey through personal grief and the challenges of preserving memories amidst the erosion of selfhood.
Dubois’s art conveys that intimacy can withstand absence, and while memories may fade, resilience and care endure in the face of loss.
In case you missed it: Exhibitions that opened over the summer
The second edition of Sint-Denijs-City showcases the tension between urban and rural life through works from 43 artists, continuing until September 21.
Meanwhile, The Geopolitics of Infrastructure at M HKA features artists examining how infrastructure can shape society, also concluding on September 21.
Tim Van Laere Gallery has a new exhibition from Rinus Van de Velde, which includes a variety of new works until October 4.
In Gaasbeek, The Woodcarver and the Forest offers a meditative look at craft and nature’s fragility until November 16.
Explore the magic of fairs at Fairground Wonders at the Huis van Alijn in Ghent, running until April 26.
(MOH)
#FlandersNewsService | Discovering heritage in Blankenberge
