Exhibitions, music, architecture, books, festivals… this is Belga English’s pick of cultural activities in Flanders and Brussels, published every Sunday.
Giuseppe Verdi’s Messa da Requiem is often called “an opera in ecclesiastical garb” due to its dramatic flair and emotional intensity, though it is not an opera at all. Composed in the early 1870s as a tribute to Italian icons Gioachino Rossini and poet Alessandro Manzoni, Verdi’s requiem immediately sparked debate. Yet, its haunting beauty and expressive depth have cemented it as one of his greatest masterpieces.
This November, experience Verdi’s masterpiece live at La Monnaie, with Alain Altinoglu conducting the La Monnaie orchestra and chorus alongside renowned soloists. Do not miss the chance to witness this breathtaking performance on 10 November at 16:00 and 13 November at 20:00.
The Art and History Museum in Brussels will host a free and exciting demonstration on 9 November from 14:00 until 16:00. Mokuhanga Magic is a unique collaboration between artists Vladimir Ivaneanu and Soetkin Everaert, who share a passion for Japanese woodcutting. Since January 2023, Soetkin has been apprenticing under Vladimir as part of the Focus Vakmanschap program, learning intricate woodcut and printing techniques. Together, they are reimagining Japanese woodcutting within the European printmaking scene, highlighting it as an accessible, innovative and eco-friendly art form.
Their work will culminate in a travelling exhibit, Weg van de Japanse houtsnede (Away from the Japanese woodcut), open to the public free of charge at the Art & History Museum from 29 October to 5 January.
Val Smets’ Will Go Undersky investigates the delicate ties between nature, human identity and the existential mysteries within these relationships. Drawing from mythological archetypes and surrealist influences, her artwork fuses plant and human forms to embody cycles of transformation and renewal. Through these hybrid figures, Smets explores dualities like light and shadow, life and death, creating a realm where reality and imagination blend seamlessly.
With a soft, pastel palette, each painting pulses with both vibrant energy and moments of serene stillness, inviting viewers to ponder their own connection to the natural world. The exhibition’s title references Duchamp’s Will Go Underground and flips the perspective, suggesting an upward journey into the spaces where earth and sky meet, revealing a world of hidden connections.
This limited offering runs from 7 November until 17 December.
Sumptuous Allegories of Nothingness explores the unique literary art of Rodney Graham (1949–2022), focusing on his artworks inspired by books—creations that often circle back to become books themselves. With a deep appreciation for “world literature” from the late 18th century onwards, Graham began experimenting in the 1980s with adaptations of classic texts. Initially, he extended books through inventive literary loops but soon created pseudo reprints that transformed iconic works into his own. These adaptations not only mirrored the design of famous books but infused Graham’s voice and style, making him a “parasite” author.
This exhibition at Ghent’s Herbert Foundation – Loods, running until 27 July, 2025, highlights the Foundation’s early discovery of Graham’s work and features his transformative book adaptations, along with inventive reading devices and book sculptures, offering audiences a novel experience with literary classics from Lewis Carroll to Richard Wagner.
Additional cultural coverage from Belga this week: Belgian thriller La nuit se traîne wins jury prize at Rome Film Festival, Original plates of Billy & Buddy comic on show for first time for 65th anniversary, New European songbook to stimulate cultural exchange in EU
