WIELS - Contemporary Art Center
Opening of the new Contemporary Art space. The inaugural exhibition, 'Expats/Clandestines', explores the question of plural identities, which are formed beyond national borders and lines of demarcation, whether they are real or imaginary. Addressing the obvious duality between expats and clandestines as a starting point, this exhibition will focus on the phenomena of complex biographies and on the tremendous cultural mix
First stage on the 26th – 28th of May
Wiels, the new Contemporary Arts Centre of Brussels, opens its doors on
the weekend of the 26th–28th of May, 2007. Following its restoration, the
remarkable corner building of the former Wielemans-Ceuppens breweries
built by the modernist architect Adrien Blomme, now houses Wiels
Contemporary Arts Centre. The first stage of this renovation concerns one
exhibition floor and the brew hall.
The creation of Wiels meets an old need: a center with an international
vocation specializing in contemporary art finally opens in Brussels!
Thanks to a broad range of activities and services, Wiels will create an
open and dynamic context, ideal for the discovery and understanding of
contemporary art. The three exhibition floors of a total surface of 1.800
m2 will accommodate six annual large scale exhibitions. The back wing will
house nine artists in residence as well as education, training and
community-based programs. Social commitment, essential to share the stakes
of contemporary art with every public, will be carried through an
innovative program of mediation, training and professional development.
A large program of complementary activities will complete the activities
of Wiels: a cinema, conferences, festivals and concerts. The brewery hall,
will serve as a convivial lobby, which will host a café-restaurant
and a bookshop. Finally, the panoramic rooftop terrace will offer a unique
viewpoint over Brussels.
The renovation was financed by the Brussels-Capital Region (“Monuments and
Sites” and special investment credits), the European structural funds
Urban II and the District of Forest/Vorst, along with private sponsors and
donors. For its operations, Wiels is supported by the Flemish Community
structural subsidies and the French Community punctual subsidies, the VGC
and the COCOF, as well as the Bernheim Foundation, the Evens Foundation,
Puilaetco Private Bankers, Leon Eeckman SA and Duvel Moortgat.
Inaugural exhibition: Expats/Clandestines
This exhibition, scheduled for the opening of Wiels, will explore the
question of plural identities, which are formed beyond national borders
and lines of demarcation, whether they are real or imaginary. Addressing
the obvious duality between expats and clandestines as a starting point,
this exhibition will focus on the phenomena of complex biographies and on
the tremendous cultural mix, visibility and anonymity, presence and
absence, and on the work of contemporary artists in the swirl of
migration.
With Francis Alÿs, Saâdane Afif, André Cadere, Nairy
Baghramian, Gabriel Kuri, Moshekwa Langa, Chen Zhen
Marcel Berlanger, Tore
On the second floor of Wiels, Marcel Berlanger presents a “theatrical”
installation of 7 large paintings modulated by a light show designed by
Julie Petit-Etienne. A unique visual and fascinating experience.
Short films commissioned for the opening of Wiels
Ann Veronica Janssens, Eclipse
Hiraki Sawa, Hako
Paulina Olowska/Bonnie Camplin, A like Akarova
WIELS - Contemporary Art Center
Avenue Van Volxem 354 – B-1190 Brussels
Opening hours: Saturday – Sunday: 12 – 24:00 Monday: 12 – 20:00