Bruges recalls its glory days in the Middle Ages as a major centre for art and culture with the launch of the Flanders Art Festival at the city’s iconic 13th-century belfry. Seeking to reposition itself once more as a key player in the international art market, this inaugural edition from 5 to 7 June follows hot on the heels of the of the grand opening of the city’s new artistic hotspot, BRUSK, at the beginning of May. Together, they evoke the city’s artistic heritage as
the ‘Venice of the North’ when the trading hub gave birth to the Flemish Primitive movement, a school of artists that flourished in the 15th century and included artists such as Jans van Eyck and Hans Memling. This new festival is wide-ranging in offering a dual programme that encompasses Old Masters, modern and contemporary art. It consists of two complementary events: the Flanders Art Fair that gathers a handful of galleries from Belgium and neighbouring countries, while ArtistMeeting enables the public to also interact directly
with artworks in the company of emerging and more established artists. The festival proposes an eclectic offering of artworks within a rarefied historic space that serves as a visually interesting counterpoint. On the ground floor of the belfry, galleries show their work within the impressive Gothic hall, all stone columns, vaulted ceilings and antique furnishings. One of the first displays honours the Bruges Antiques Fair that was staged in the Belfry from 1983 until 2002. Antique dealer Paul de Grande (pictured above) presents a collection
of works from the 16th century onwards, including an imposing carved wood wall panel. Another stand celebrates Bruges’ historic ties to Italian art with Mario Scalfati of Santelmo Fine Art’s presentation of modern sculptures and paintings from the 1930s to the 1970s. They feature a collection of works by Franco Angeli, a leading figure of post-war Italian art. As the festival is organised by Knokke Art Fair’s Alexander Tutueleers, there are some gallery regulars from his annual August show in the upmarket Belgian coastal resort.
They include the Kokeshi Gallery from the Netherlands, which injects an Asian flavour with its collection of beautiful Japanese works, from traditional wooden dolls without arms and legs that were originally created for children, to a stunning yellowy-gold decorative panel adorned with a delicate nature print. Making its first appearance in Belgium is the All In Gallery from Utrecht in the Netherlands, which presents around 12 of its artists. From Hans Jouta’s flighty bronze birds to Maria Dellaert’s mixed portraits, the nature theme creates an
intriguing contrast with the heritage setting. Gallery assistant Sanne Schmitt welcomes “the tension, or even occasional clash” that this brings. “It adds another narrative layer,” she says. Visitors are invited to cross the inner cobbled courtyard of the belfry and climb a flight of ancient stone steps to the first floor where ArtistMeeting is simultaneously staged. Showcasing around 100 up-and-coming artists, they occupy a circuit of stands in the high ceiling, wooden-beamed historic space. Liège artist Martin Lovenfosse greets visitors with an arresting series of
large-scale portraits, principally of famous figures such as Andy Warhol and Vincent Van Gogh. “I always start with the eyes as they draw you in,” says the self-taught painter. Dutch-Lebanese artist Bilal Chalal presents his mixed media solo project Chronos & Kairos, the duality of waiting, a series of paintings and works on refurbished paper that explore the experience of time. His elongated chairs, presented singly or in groups, are simple everyday objects imbued with a sense of waiting and absence. Chalal himself, who has
also lived and worked in Colombia and Curacao, studied art history and is fascinated by exploring layers of meaning and the cultural context of art. Closer to home, Brussels textile artist Joëlle Picquet was determined to give a new lease of live to a 100-year-old piece of lace. She transformed it with indigo dye, embellishing it with her own contrasting yet complementary embroidery to create a stunning centrepiece. Alexander Tuteleers, in officially opening the festival, highlighted the breadth of work represented in the fair section,
from the 16th century to the modern day. While the ArtistMeeting event enabled visitors “to meet the artist behind the work.” The new initiative also capitalised on the Flemish region’s strong collecting tradition. Bruges mayor Dirk de Fauw underlined the importance of art today in attracting tourists to a city. Combined with the new BRUSK art hall, the festival offered visitors a contemporary cultural experience, he said. Flanders Art Festival 5 to 7 June, 14.00-19.00Market SquareBruges Photos: (main image) Bruges belfry ©jandarthet; ©The Bulletin
Flanders Art Festival, Bruges belfry, ArtistMeeting, Flanders Art Fair, BRUSK, Venice of the North, Flemish Primitive, Jans van Eyck, Hans Memling