Imagenes del Mexicano

As the cornerstone exhibition at Bozar’s massive Mexico Festival, Imágenes del Mexicano has the daunting task of depicting Mexico’s complicated history and vibrant culture in 150 works from native as well as international artists.

Mexico’s rich heritage and perpetual quest for its own identity creates a fascinating and diverse experience that incorporates paintings, photography, movies and sculpture. The emphasis, however, lies on portraits: the many faces of Mexico’s population collectively create both a realistic and soulful interpretation of the country’s social and cultural voyage.

You start with its pre-Columbian past, illustrated by a unique collection of Aztec sculptures and Olmec heads. These symbolic representations of important themes of religious worship and day-to-day life lead us to the next stage, race and class in one of Spain’s new colonies.

The caste or castas system was a very important part of society, resulting in opposing portraits of 16th-century aristocrats and Mexico’s indigenous peoples.As more immigrants started coming to the blossoming country, certain stereotypes, such as the image of the rural, working-class peasant, were created. These stereotypes would become an important part of Mexican folklore, and of Imágenes del Mexicano, as they also promote the cultural nationalism that led this ever-changing country further down the road towards independence.

Besides highlighting several historical changes, the exhibition also has a keen eye for the social. An entire room is dedicated to death (La Calaca) and another to the funeral portrait, which is a specific genre in 19th-century Mexican art. Death is an important part of life in Mexican culture and should be celebrated, not mourned.

As we get closer to the images of contemporary Mexico, photographs and film are scattered across the exhibition, mixing a 3,000 year-old heritage and a continuously evolving future. One of the most engaging installations is master Russian filmmaker Sergei Eisenstein’s ¡Que Viva Mexico!, an allegorical evocation of the Mexican Revolution. Another highlight is Tina Modotti’s photo series of the women from the Tehuantepec isthmus, which gives a raw yet elegant depiction of every-day life.

Finally, the modern gallery of Mexican portraits offers a multifaceted view of the present-day Mexican identity. These portraits, which are vibrant yet often dark and brooding, shed light on Mexico’s psychological and cultural development. Occasionally adding surreal sentiment to the equation, these works by Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera and David Alfaro Siqueiros, to name a few, are engaging and enlightening.

Flanders Today March 3 2011

More than meets the eye

Stefan Annerel’s new exhibition is a deceptive mix of simplicity and splendour

Photographic reproductions, such as you see on this page, don’t do Stefan Annerel’s work justice. Sure, pictures capture the vibrant colours and intricate structure, but these are works that have to be encountered face-toface to truly appreciate their dazzling beauty and hidden depths. For lack of a better word, they have to be experienced.

Four years ago, the Antwerp-based painter accidently discovered a technique that would make his work and career blossom. “Adding resin to my works made them very glossy and, hence, tactile. It transforms the multiple layers and colours and adds an entirely new dimension,” he tells me at the opening of his new show Counterchange in Antwerp’s Kusseneers Gallery.

The first thing that strikes you about Annerel’s works is indeed their unexpected gloss, which

is complimented by rich colours and bold, constructivist patterns. They exude sumptuous sophistication despite seeming quite simple. Take a closer look, and you find that this isn’t our average two-dimensional canvas. Annerel work is in multiple layers, turned into a whole due to the resin. They beg to be viewed from different angles; new aspects are revealed, luring you deeper into each painting and into the wonder of their creation.

Annerel’s technique is exceptional. “I get myinspiration from advertisements in magazines,

pieces of fabric, even very trivial things like the typical pattern of the bag that most people carry

their laundry to the launderette in,” he explains. “I extract a piece, take it out of its original context and create a collage. By adding several layers of paint, paper or plastic on top, I not only

expand its original form but also its colours, creating an illusion of fact and fiction.” Finally, he’s applies the resin to all of the layers. The resin is what is responsible for a contrast that

adds both gloss and an almost tangible depth to the pieces. These two characteristics together make the artist’s work very distinguishable.

“If you stare at something like a detail in a photograph long enough, it detaches itself from its original meaning and gains a whole new one,” Annerel continues. This play on reality is also one of the key features in his work. The mundane titbits that influenced him are not only immortalised but are transformed into an experience reminiscent of a fading memory.

Annerel’s works are like mysteries waiting to be unravelled, but at the same time, any true meaning seems to stay beyond our grasp. The result is an enchanting web of multiple associations. Their titles, however, may help guide you in the right direction.

The title Counterchange refers to a weaving technique that inspired Annerel to create works that incorporate similar patterns. He transforms a figurative element into an abstract masterpiece

with a dash of trompe l’oeil.

Flanders Today February 10 2011

The capital of taste

This summer, Hasselt has a lot more on offer than a nip of jenever

Ever since last year's immensely popular television series De Smaak van de Keyser, which followed the lives of three generations of women in a jenever distillery in Hasselt, this little, bubbly city has been rediscovered by the Flemish.

Dubbed the Capital of Taste by city officials, Hasselt is known for its sophisticated flavours: in addition to many good restaurants and the infamously delicious jenever, it’s a fashion capital (the home of designer Stijn Helsen) and has quaint little shops, picturesque squares and numerous museums.

Seeing as most cities are going all out to lure in the crowds this summer, Hasselt could not just stand by without putting up some competition. It has, with little fanfare, put together an intricately planned programme to keep you entertained even on the rainier summer days.

Every Monday evening, carillons from the Sint-Quintinus Cathedral will chime above while you sip cold beer (or hot coffee) at one of the cosy cafes on the Grote Markt. If that sounds like taking things too easy, you can always join the roller-skating parade, which leaves the Kolonel Dusartplein at 19.00, whisking you across the city on eight wheels.

The Grote Markt really is the place to be in Hasselt this summer. It’s the spot for the uber-charming Hasselt Danst every Tuesday night. After a 30-minute lesson by a local dance group, you’ll be ready to take centre stage and boogie the night away. A different dance is taught every week, making you an all-around expert by summer’s end.

On Wednesdays nights, meanwhile, local orchestra Toeternietoe, aided by several guest musicians, lighten the mood with upbeat melodies on the Molenpoortplein. More free music awaits, this time in Kamermolenpark, with free concerts every Thursday as part of the Parkfeesten series taking place across Flanders. Upcoming shows include Yamundo, a Flemish- Dutch trio delivering sultry, jazzy beats, and Antwerp-based light pop group Mama's Jasje.

Saturdays in Hasselt are dedicated to antiques, with a wonderful little antique market on the Kolonel Dusartplein in the morning, followed by an art fair on the Groenplein (next to the tourist office) in the afternoons. Paintings, sculptures, jewellery, you name it.

Aside from glorious food and drink, Limburg provinc in general excels in pop and rock music, spitting out one great little garage band after another. We end our week, then, with the Muziekterras, live music on the Leopoldplein with an after-party at C.Bar.

But what about Friday? you may be wondering. Well, that's up to you, really – choose from the scads of other ongoing activities in Hasselt this summer. Visit, for example, the surprisingly interesting fairytale exhibit Zeg Roodkapje, waar ga je heen? (Say, Little Red Riding Hood, Where Are You Going?) in the oft-overlooked literary museum.

Also bypassed in favour of its competition in Antwerp, Hasselt’s fashion museum houses the exhibition In Her Shoes, which follows the evolution in women’s shoe design from 1900 to the present, illustrated by way of famous creations by well-known (Christian Louboutin, Jimmy Choo, Manolo Blahnik) and lesser-known designers.

What started in Ghent has now moved to Hasselt: Sunday through Thursday from 27 July to 30 August, television celebrity Marcel Vanthilt hosts his new show Villa Vanthilt from the “mobile villa” built on the Kolonel Dusartplein. Sit back and relax in the garden of his “estate” and take in the show starting at 22.00.

And let’s not forget about Rimpelrock (Wrinkle Rock) on 15 August. Clouseau, Billy Ocean, Lee Towers, Dana Winner and many more head to the Kiewit in Hasselt to show that summer music festivals are not just for the young. Thousands of 60-plussers turn out for this annual event, waving their arms in the air and hooting at the stage. It’s one of Flanders’ more surreal summer experiences, and that’s saying a lot.

Last but not least, everyone is encouraged to take part in Hasselt’s photo competition. If you've had a great time at one of the abovementioned venues, and you've got the pictures to prove it, send them in via the city’s website. Every week a winner will be awarded a gift certificate. Non-winners need not despair – by the end of the summer, all entries will be posted on Hasselt's new website.

In the Summer, in the City

In the fast-paced world of summer festivals, Antwerp plays slow, sultry and hard to get

During the summer, most people are dying to get out of the city. Heat, humidity, traffic fumes – all of that leaves us gasping for cool breezes and wide open spaces. So how come thousands of people voluntarily decide to spend their lazy days in one of the busiest cities in Belgium? (For those of you who were wondering, that would be Antwerp.) The answer is actually quite simple and consists of those three little words you long to hear: Zomer van Antwerpen. That means Summer of Antwerp, and it isn’t just a lot of hot air.

This annual festival has become an entertainment phenomenon, attracting pleasure seekers from all over Belgium, of course, but also tourists. Aside from making Antwerpenaars even more proud than they already are, it reminds the rest of the country just how quirky and dynamic this divine little city by the Scheldt really is.

Until 30 August, Antwerp’s gobs of activities lure in the very little and the terribly mature, the punk rock renegades and the culture crusaders. Every year, internationally acclaimed acts brighten up the metropolis in various wacky locations together with established and beloved landmarks. Needless to say, there’s never a dull moment.

Whereas other cities turn their summer festivals into a short but tantalizing adrenaline rush, Antwerp likes to take its time and savour every minute. This is why the multiple genres of activities have been spread over two months, giving everyone the chance to participate whenever they feel like it. There's no rush, just countless possibilities.

Besides its historical, artistic and international allure, Antwerp has remained a fairly compact city, with an eclectic mix of cultures and districts. This diversity plays an important role in the music, theatre, circus, film and parties of Zomer van Antwerpen – a means of making sure that everyone enjoys the different layers that make Antwerp so unique.

Thanks to numerous festivities situated at sometimes unknown locations, we get to know the city – and its inhabitants – a little better. While, god willing, basking in the summer sun.

Something old, something new

Sadly, Strantwerpen, the much loved beach by the Scheldt, had to make way this year for a new bar. But the bar – in a forest – may turn out to be as popular. A cosy, dream-like oasis has been built where you order up a chilly cocktail and sip it in a hammock or underneath a giant straw parasol while the kids play in the sand. The trees are filled with hundreds of lights, making the evenings by the water even more enchanting. Oh yes, this is the real-deal feel of the summer holidays.

Another annual classic could not be halted: the gorgeous sunset on the Scheldt, otherwise known as De Mooiste Show op Aarde (The Most Beautiful Show on Earth). A special grandstand has been constructed where you can sit back and relax with friends – or a more intimate companion – while watching the orange-red skies and the sun glistening in the water. Not a bad way to end a busy day, particularly when you notice the barbecue at your disposal.

A lot of Zomer van Antwerpen is free. There are concerts on squares across town with music from all over the globe, but possibly the most popular activity is the open-air cinema along the Scheldt. Bring your own chair, plop it down in front of the huge screen and soak up the atmosphere provided by the city itself.

Movie buffs, Antwerpenaars and holiday makers mingle in the sand and relish the free films (and sweets). The movies tend towards recent releases: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Wrestler, I'm Not There and Milk are all on the agenda.

Antwerp is still talking about its festival of 2006, when French artist Francois Delaroziere, famed for bringing together artists, designers and engineers to create bizarre and beautiful mechanical contraptions for both stage and street theatre, stirred up a commotion with his majestic parade De Olifant en de kleine reizin (The Elephant and the Tiny Giantess). This year he's back with one of this summer's highlights: De Vierkante Molen, or The Square Carousel. This curious ride is decorated with giant buffalos, insects and huge fish heads that go up and down, round and round. Adults are climbing aboard at an equal rate to the kids.

For paid performances, it’s usually necessary to buy tickets in advance, but don’t let that turn you off. There's plenty to go around, and you've got two months. So order another cocktail and take your time.

Step right up

Circus and theatre – and some other stuff we can’t classify

This year Antwerp is graced by four different circus-like performances:

• Mijn Dorp (My Village) by Lang Toi who have made a poetic representation of everyday life in their homeland of Vietnam (photo above). Musicians, acrobats and a lot of bamboo were used to recreate a typical yet magical Vietnamese village.

• La Piste Là by Cirque Aital also features acrobats, only this time seasoned with a dash of comedy and a very unusual band. This award-winning French act is an ode to old-time circus, spiced up with a hint of 21st-century Surrealism.

• Un Horizonte Cuadrado (A Square Horizon) by Compania De Pasa, coming all the way from Chile, finds six trapeze artists seemingly going beyond the boundaries of their own physical limitations. Contained in a huge metal construction, they twirl downward aided by trance-like music and fluent motions, emphasising the difficulty in making connections in this world – and maybe even in the next.

• Finally, in Tabú by Nofitstate, you are free to wander about in a giant silver UFO while the performers skate by you and the music is pumping. This contemporary combination of circus and rock from Wales features videos, performance and startling surprises.

Though theatre-like performances aren’t keen to be outdone:

• Tussen Hond en Wolf (Between Dog and Wolf) takes you to the left bank of the Scheldt, Linkeroever, and is best described as a love story on the road (see photo, front page). Inspired by the movie Before Sunrise, it’s a bittersweet tale about the impossibility of a burning desire (in Dutch).

• If you prefer your weather hot and your theatre droll, try Altijd 'tzelfde (Always the Same) by Tristero. This long-running French hit, translated here into Dutch, won the prestigious Moliere prize in 1995 and takes place in a typical Belgian cafe. Family is the main focus in this hilarious and ohso-relatable comedy.

• A bit more intimate is U bevindt zich hier (You Are Here) by Dries Verhoeven, in which you enter a hotel room all by yourself and listen as a voice narrates a story about you and everyone else. As your story intertwines with those of others, you get to know yourself and your surroundings in a simple, comforting way (in Dutch).

Het Elfde Gebod

Basking in the shadow of Antwerp’s majestic cathedral is a cafe that combines everything we Belgians consider sacred: the Virgin Mary and beer.

Het Elfde Gebod (The Eleventh Commandment) takes the religious kitsch theme to a whole new level: it is literally filled from top to bottom with statues of saints and other holy artifacts. Hundreds of eyes gaze upon you in a place where gluttony is too easily indulged due to the wide variety of Belgian beers on offer, not to mention the incredibly tasty ribs.

The atmosphere is simply divine, quite literally, and exudes all the grandeur of a medieval fortress, aided by the robust wooden furniture and large circular chandeliers with (alas) fake candles.

The building that houses this devout pub, an oxymoron if there ever was one, actually dates back to the Middle Ages, but only the arches in the basement are original features – all that could be salvaged from a terrible fire hundreds of years ago.

In 1979, Irene and Jan opened this unique cafe, reminiscent of Antwerp’s artistic Renaissance that was predominantly inspired by Catholicism. In the presence of the most famous saints in history, you only have to keep one thing in mind: “Thou shalt enjoy” (aka the eleventh commandment).

Flanders Today July 8 2009

Summer, Bloody Summer

The annual holiday thriller book list is out

Summer: holidays, relaxation, cocktails, swimming pools. And a good book. This is where Boek.be comes in. Every year the confederation of Flemish booksellers and publishers organizes an event that guarantees a long, hot and (above all) suspenseful summer (even if it's raining): Zomer van het Spannende Boek (Summer of the Suspense Book).

This year, 48 thrillers were selected from international and Belgian soil – mystery, crime and political intrigue meant to get your heart racing and keep you on the edge of your seat (or beach blanket). The usual suspects are all accounted for: Pieter Aspe (Misleid), Bob Mendes (Vuil Geld) and Stan Lauryssens (Bloedrozen), whose memoir Dali en ik, by the way, is now being turned into a movie starring Al Pacino – not bad for a Belgian.

These authors are accompanied by many other Belgians (Chistian de Coninck, Paul Jacobs, Jos Pierreux) and by European and North American authors. David Baldacci’s new book First Family (translated in Dutch as Familieverraad) – about a kidnapping of the US president’s niece – is on the list, as is Too Close to Home (Dicht bij huis), the latest from Canadian Linwood Barclay, which won Canada’s top prize for crime fiction and is already a best-seller in Britain.

Zomer van het Spannende Boek not only satisfies the native speaker's bloodlust but also functions as a very good introduction to Flemish mystery fiction for non-natives. Crime fiction is more accessible than a more, ahem, literary excursion and offers an entertaining way to put your Dutch to the test. Many new readers also find that translated text is easier to follow than original Dutch.

Up until 4 August, these mystifying masterminds will be lurking in the shadows (well, truth be told, more like in prominent displays) of a bookstore or library near you. You can also win one of the featured books in a “suspenseful contest” online – a timer decides if you answer questions about the authors fast enough to win. (Not being quite as sadistic as their authors, they give you a cheat sheet.)

Flanders Today June 24 2009