Katinka Lampe 1

katinka lampe1

Painting by Katrinka Lampe in her exhibition, 'Rebel and Saint' at the Galerie Les Filles du Calvaire, Brussels. This and many other galleries took part in Brussels Art Day, holding special events and previews etc to encourage people's interest in contemporary art.

It was also great fun.

Hotel Bloom Revisited

bloom flower artist

I went back to the hotel to get some more photos of the artists and their work and got this great one in one of the most colourful of the rooms. This exuberant display of flowers carried on over the wall and onto the ceiling.

This is a great project and it's inspired me to try to start one of my own, featuring the Mannekin Pis. I'm talking to some artist friends at the moment and doing some preliminary research and I hope to give you some more details soon.

Hotel Bloom

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22 European artists have won chance to paint an artwork in Brussels' Hotel Bloom. Each bedroom is unique.

I had a great time wandering around the eighth floor, taking photos for Upfront magazine and chatting to the very friendly bunch of artists who explained what they were trying to do. I didn't seen any works that I didn't like, most I would describe as interesting and some were outstanding.

I'm going back later to photo the completed works, but click on the photo to see my flickr collection of some of the artists and their works.

Je Reste Belge

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Yesterday, I joined 35,000 other people in the unity march. As an expat, I take the line that Belgians should decide Belgian politics.

But there's a limit to that, especially when it decides a change of country.

It's also getting a bit silly. The politicians are divided over BHV and can't squirm themselves into a coalition. Here's an idea; let the people decide. Hold a referendum in BHV about the future of the communes.

In the meantime, living in BHV, I have no desire to end up in Flanders, almost entirely because I don't want to be ruled by a bunch of neo-Nazis like the Vlaams Belang.

Besides I like Belgium, frustrating as it can be, there is something unique, charming and glorious about Belgium. Why split? Isn't life complicated enough already?

The march was great fun with a happy, playful and tolerant spirit. Lots of good natured people smiling at each other. we walked past the US embassy - who were do doubt in a state of shock and awe at not being abused or having chunks of paving stones lobbed at them.

We finished Under the arch and settled down to frites and beer.

Coup de théâtre à La Monnaie

Coup de théâtre à La Monnaie
Originally uploaded by MKWM

"Curtain", by Alicja Karska & Aleksandra Went (Project 21 - Poland)

A fortnight ago, as I was having a warm drink, sitting on a terrace in Place de la Monnaie, I kept looking at that red curtain, wondering what it could be all about. Now I know... and I must admit this Agorafolly project actually distracted me from my daily routine in the most pleasant way, unveiling a building I knew nothing about, although I’ve been living in Brussels for over a quarter of a century.

What you can see behind the curtain

The theatre's history

Public Exchange Store

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By Yota Ioannidou (Greece)

This is an interesting way of looking at exchange, currency and markets - things that obsess EU decision makers. This triangular cabin is where you can exchange goods for other goods or services.

Part of the Europhilia Agrofolly exhibition of 27 different works in 27 public squares, each artist represents their own EU nation.

Europalia Agorafolly 10

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One More Monument by Fia-Stina Sandlung

Not a great photo, but a dark morning suited this piece. In front of the war memorial is a black square set into the ground. On it is inscribed "In Honour Of The Future Victims Of Swedish Made Weapons".

At once this artwork reconciles the homage to the previous previous fallen and a duty towards building a peaceful future.

As you read the inscription you automatically look down, taking in the inscription as you bow your head to the existing monument.

Why Sweden? Well it's neutrality doesn't seem to harm it's weapons sales.

Europalia Agorafolly 8

Europalia Agorafolly14

Another part of Europalia Agorafolly. This one is about consumerism. It looks like a really funky kids playground, a bit like Planet Kids.

I didn't really get this one. Still at least I got a ride in the lift, one that always induces a touch of vertigo in me, but what a view from it.

Naughty

naughty

Saw this last Sunday afternoon. turns out it's an occasional gay club. It seemed to have petered out by the time we saw it.

It's a reminder of just how many 'Brussels' there are as there are so many different groups, social circles and lifestyles in this small city.

Some I know about, some I'm involved in and some I bump into randomly.

Europalia Agorafolly 15

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This is part of the Europalia Agorafolly tour. A fun piece, using brush heads to make a red carpet. you can walk on it but it is all a bit wobbly. A comment on the perils and uncertainties of fame?

Interesting.

Night Filming

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Wandering around last night, looking for Halloween photos for Upfront, we passed this night filming session opposite the Greenwich bar.

No idea what was being filmed.

Welcome Strangers

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This piece, sending out a message to space is part of the Europarlia festival and part of an Art Walk through Brussels. We'll be covering more of this in the future.

I like this simple sculpture and it's open, hopeful and friendly message.

kaabala

kaabala

Brussels recreates Mecca's famous Kaabala in Martyrs Square off Rue Neuve.

Update: Whoops! I've just realised that this isn't a rennovation of a monument but a work of art for europhilia.

Cityscape

cityscape1

The cityscape installation is now open and there are some lovely seats as well as a sub-IKEA wooden bench around the exterior. It is a wonderful intrusion into an old city and there's a lovely smell of fresh wood in the air.

I was photographing it for an article in the next issue of Upfront and one of the most interesting aspects was watching people's reactions, I even saw two people bump into each other because they were startled by the installation. Also I noticed how much people enjoyed it, the smiles, the gestures and how comfortable people felt around the sculpture.

Now I have to go and see it under different lights and in the evening. It's a lovely experience. Take a book or an ipod and just enjoy sitting around this imaginative and impressive artwork.

Brussels Beer Festival

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I went to the opening of the festival on Friday evening to take some photos for Upfront magazine. I found this jazz band managing to combine music with steady drinking.

Place de Martyrs

merode statue and ruin

A statue of one of de Merode's volunteers gazes forelornly over the semi-dilapidated square. It is a beautiful little square but it does seem lielfess. One side is about to be rennovated as a hotel, but I don't think that will really breathe life into the square.

Perhaps it is because of what it represents - a victory over the Dutch that means it is a little disregarded, but it is peaceful, but could be so much better, a real little gem.

Perhaps it will, once again, be a vegetable garden, possibly with Alexander de Merode choosing the exotic plants!

Beautiful Brussels

beautiful brussels sticker

This one worries me. Perhaps it's the psychotic facial expression, or the uncertainty about what exactly you get for your precious Euro, but whatever it is, it just seems disturbing. Though the poor chap seems deleriously delighted to be urinating on France.

Dan Graham Sculpture

dan graham

This is a lovely find, a sculpture by Dan Graham is a little park on rue Trone.

It looks very unimpressive, but on entering you see that the curve of the walls reflects everything, almost like a hologram. A bit of an odd feeling, and I wouldn't spend much time in there, but well worth the experience.

More about Dan Graham

Comocomo

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Off to Comocomo, a Basque tapas type place, for a slap up meal. And to take photos for a local magazine, Upfront, had offered a free meal for 20 winners of a competition and it was a great night out, I met some interesting people and took some half-decent pictures for the mag.

Oh, and the food was great.

Saturday

departing tram

And Saturday means.... double shopping.

One thing I've not got used to is that pretty much everything shuts on a Sunday - at least it does in bland suburbia, where we are.

If you forget something then it's a long trek to the garage a kilometer away. In Britain garages at night are full of stoned kids looking for munchies, in Brussels it's the middle classes searching for missing ingredients for supper.