Neighbourhood life, 
art and music
made in Belgium

“We’d rather invite the guys you probably never heard of.” Splḗn co-founder Felix Claus on the next energetic edition

With the next edition of energetic festival Splḗn hosted this coming weekend, we put a few questions to co-founder Felix Claus about breaking the music festival mould, championing up-and-coming artists and how to keep energy levels high.

On the streets of Belgium, Part 1: Miles Fischler

The Word Magazine and Fujifilm are happy to invite you to a free street photography workshop, and for the occassion, we sent our own in-house photographer Miles Fischler to capture our streets.

Five reasons to go see La Monnaie’s Lohengrin

We select five reasons why La Monnaie's next month-long production Lohengrin is one to be noted.

Rhythm is a dancer: Brussels-based contemporary dance school P.A.R.T.S.

How exactly does the internationally acclaimed dance school P.A.R.T.S. manage to churn out future talent after future talent in such a diminutive and unassuming manner?

KASKcinema’s Bert Lesaffer selects 10 classic Belgian movies

In honour of their spring programme being in full swing, KASKcinema teacher and programmer Bert Lesaffer presents his favourite Belgian movies.

“I want to create something that can stand on its own.” Midnight Chardonnay founder Mamiko Motto on the debut edition of her nomadic festival concept

With the first edition of Midnight Chardonnay hosted this coming Saturday at Antwerp's Het Bos, we put a few questions to founder Mamiko Motto.

25-to-life: Part 2 of Centrale for Contemporary Art’s essentials

We distill the ambitious Centrale for Contemporary Art in 25 essentials, carrying on the five-part series with Part 2.

Behind the scenes of Kasper De Vos’ hectic studio

Inside access into Kasper De Vos' mad scientist's laboratory, with rusted scissors, scattered photographs and half-finished sculptures giving a taste of his multidimensional mind.

“I believe that art is a human need”: Tatjana Gerhard’s re-invention of the world

Zürich native and Ghent-based artist Tatjana Gerhard showcases her long career tributing the human figure, ahead of her upcoming solo-exhibition Rag Doll Act at Waregem's Be-Part.

The way you make me move: Recently deceased Ghent-based artist Lucas Devriendt, as recalled by friends, colleagues and students

A series of first-hand tributes collected by artlead.net's Thomas Caron, commemorating the legacy of artist and teacher Lucas Devriendt, and how he touched so many lives.

Philip Vormwald’s tribute to chaos

Next up with Philip Vormwald's monochromatic chaos, we're shining some light on The Hope's nominees ahead of Collectible's opening in a rather impromptu yet necessary collaborative mini-series.

Héloïse Rival on her work, challenges and the everyday inspirations

Continuing with Héloïse Rival's unconventional practices, we're shining some light on The Hope's nominees ahead of Collectible's opening in a rather impromptu yet necessary collaborative mini-series.

The lighter side of satire: William Ludwig Lutgens’ unfiltered mind

Antwerp-based visual artist William Ludwig Lutgens takes us through the chaotic thought processes behind his rebellious works.

“Belgium is challenging as it is an unescapable art platform in Europe”: Eric Stephany’s work on balance

Carrying on with Eric Stephany's geometric forms, we're shining some light on The Hope's nominees ahead of Collectible's opening in a rather impromptu yet necessary collaborative mini-series.

Martin Hyde’s questioning of the real world

Kicking off with Martin Hyde's surrealism, we're shining some light on The Hope's nominees ahead of Collectible's opening in a rather impromptu yet necessary collaborative mini-series.

25-to-life: Part 1 of Centrale for Contemporary Art’s essentials

We distill the ambitious Centrale for Contemporary Art in 25 essentials, kicking off the five-part series with introductory Part 1.

“Fighting against an unequal relationship”: Kaaitheater’s Katleen Van Langendonck on WoWmen! 2018

Brussels-based performing arts centre Kaaitheater’s artistic programmer Katleen Van Langendonck spills the beans on this year’s program of WoWmen!, kicking off this Monday 5th.

Interrogating the individual: Island’s Emmanelle Indekeu on Me, me, me, me

Curator Emmanuelle Indekeu unpicks the temporality and pertinence of bringing artists together for Brussels-based gallery Island's current exhibition, whilst tapping into her own creative inspirations

On capturing portraits of a generation by Gen Z’s Salvatore Calcagno, Antoine Neufmars and Emilie Flamant

Questioning what it means to be a youth in the digital age and how political consciousness is shaping their future choices, the result is the interdisciplinary documentary event Gen Z that reconciles Millenials in all their complexities.

Resurrecting darlings: Ines Cox’s design self-reflections

From childhood games with a copy machine to finding inspiration from her students, the unrelentless Ines Cox talks us through her portfolio.

Seeing the bigger picture: Nick Ervinck’s virtual reality

With the virtual world at the tips of his fingers, Nick Ervinck's brush is a radical tool for control and manipulatation, and in creating exciting new possibilities like printing pre-designed food.

Digging deep into the Acker process: Florian Fischer on To Name Herstory

It's your last chance to catch To Name Herstory, and director Florian Fischer gives his own interrogative take on Kathy Acker's intentions and discusses the challenges of transforming her work into theatre for the occasion.

Bridging the makers with the viewers: Eva Van Tongeren on Visite’s fourth edition

With the opening night of their fourth edition set at Brussels' Beursschouwburg this Wednesday, the rest of Visite will be carried out in its home-base Het Bos till 3rd of March.

Five reasons to go see La Monnaie’s Cavalleria rusticana & Pagliacci

Taking to the stage next week Tuesday 6th of March, we select five reasons why this month-long double bill production is one to be noted.

“Art should protect vulnerable histories and project future hypothesis, repositioning perspectives and unravelling potentiality.” The cerebral work of Emmanuel Van der Auwera

Emmanuel Van der Auwera discusses the genesis of his artistic practice, the inflection point that was 9/11 and how society at large processes trauma.

On battling indifference

Based off of an interview with S.M.A.K.'s Philippe Van Cauteren, a manifesto concerning the power of museums in battling indifference and its ability to shape engaged and motivated individuals.

The 40 best photographs of 2017

Inside Anne-Mie Van Kerckhoven’s visual paradise

With Anne-Mie Van Kerckhoven's grand AMVK exhibition set to take over M HKA starting tomorrow, here's a chance to look behind the curtains.

From riots to regeneration: Operational Aesthetics opens today at CIVA in Brussels

We consider the transformative effect of Neighbourhood Contracts on Brussels' landscape, economy and social cohesion. 

“The chaos of the city could be exhausting as a citizen, but as an artist, it’s a treasure.”

Five foreign-born, Brussels-based artists on their newfound home, and the kind of impact the city has had on their work.

“I look at life with an urge to understand its shape and core”: Elke Andreas Boon’s gaze at the brutal and vulnerable

Nothing holds Ghent's Elke Andreas Boon back as she unflinchingly tackles thorny questions on belonging and survival, pain and empathy in her wide-ranging oeuvre.

Pink spring: Alejandra Hernández’s snaps of India

Bogota-by-Brussels artist Alejandra Hernandez's journeyed through India last year, and luckily for us, she brought back a throwaway to share.

Delicate intimacy in Maria Baoli’s photography

Amongst FoMu platform .tiff's selection of ten strong artists this year, one in particular caught our eye: Brussels-based Maria Baoli breaks down her past, present, and future works for us.

Five reasons to visit BOZAR’s Are You Series? 2017

With only one day to go, we handpick five reasons to not miss this year's edition of Are You Series?, the Brussels-based festival celebrating all things international TV series.

Behind the scenes of Adelheid De Witte’s charming studio

Telling snapshots of Ghent-based artist Adelheid De Witte's mysterious and vibrant studio.

Perpetual Uncertainty: a talk with Z33 curator Ils Huygens

Z33 curator Ils Huygens bridges art and science with Perpetual Uncertainty, exploring contemporary nuclear science's omnipresence in our lives.

Neighbourhood watch: The design improvements Region of Brussels’ residents would bring to their Communes (Part 2)

Nine more Brussels-based locals imagine the potential futures for architectural design in their neighbourhoods.

Honey I shrunk the kids: Jaco Van Dormael’s bagload of capsules

Celebrated Belgian filmmaker Jaco Van Dormael discusses scales, studio tactics and how lovely it is to get to work with family in light of his series of seven capsule videos, in collaboration with signature leathergood imprint Delvaux.

visionandfactory’s Hugo Puttaert on Integrated 2017’s urgent manifesto

Curator Hugo Puttaert shares the aims and visions involved in this year's Integrated conference, which will be held at Antwerp's deSingel over the next two days.

On capturing the future, by Agence Future

We sat down with the duo behind Agence Future to discuss their lives' work, blurring the boundaries between academic vigour and creative art.

The six sequences of ADAM’s collection, part 5: The Aesthetics of Abundance

A "thrilling adventure of the real": how plastics facilitated formal innovation in the 1960s.

“I’ve always had something of a fascination for folkloric figures”: The tall tales of sculptor Eric Croes

We caught up with the artist Eric Croes in his Etterbeek studio to talk myths, artistic renewal and the clumsiness of ceramics.

Behind the scenes of Lieven Segers’ unconventional studio

Look behind the scenes at Antwerp-based artist Lieven Segers atelier.

The six sequences of ADAM’s collection, part 4: Design as a Trojan Horse

Was American design in the 1970s protest or pure innovation?

10 essential movie posters – Part 2

From the essential (La Promesse) to the graphic (De Zaak Alzheimer) and the revolutionary (23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles), we zoom in on the artwork that positioned these movies for longevity.

Five things to check out at ING Art Centre’s “Christo and Jeanne-Claude: Urban Projects”

ING Art Centre are visiting Christo and Jeanne-Claude's impressive career for this year's expansive exhibition, and we handpick five unavoidable points for the occasion.

Five reasons to go and see La Monnaie’s Lucio Silla

We dissect five key points for attending La Monnaie / De Munt's new, sublime opera Lucio Silla, which is opening tonight.

On the fanclub we created for artist Vaast Colson, by Herman Labro and Julien Stiers

Non-profit collective art space w wh at* discusses the beginnings and processes involved in their intriguing project, voorforvaast fanclub.