Previous exhibitions
The daring cartoonist-trio 'La Savate' are currently exhibiting their alternative drawings under the theme of V.H.S. - violence, horror, sex - inspired by the videotapes as we used to know them. Videotapes with all kinds of bizarre contents, taped over numerous times and stocked away in the bottom of your closet. On the 18th a vernissage was held, an event that also kick started their soon to be tour in Denmark.
La Savate is: Tristan Dupuis, Maxence Thiberge & Arnaud Lorne
Historically town squares and market squares has played an important role in all of Europe . They were and are still meeting point for tradesmen, artists, pedestrians and street performers. The Agorafolly project is giving the opportunity to 27 young, European artists to make 27 squares in the heart of Brussels come alive with their work of art and at the same time create a new meeting point for contemporary, European art. As part of the project each artist will be represented at the exhibition Agorafolly Inside at the European Centre for Contemporary Art. This way they are represented by an earlier, individual work of art as well as a future one in interaction with the public domain and the European identity.
Denmark is represented by the innovative artistduo AVPD. AVPD consists of the two academically trained artists Aslak Vibæk and Peter Døssing.
They have developed a one of a kind art installation made especially for the Beguinage square in Brussels . Their installation, called 'Inverted Exposure', absorbs the daylight and beams it back out during the night, creating alterations in the concepts of time and space by transporting the sunlight. The Beguinage square and the church will therefore be bathed in AVPD sunlight, both night and day.
Read more about the Europalia.europa
Place Béguinage with the AVPD installation
Art Money
The opening of the exhibition was on the 24th of March as part of the Danish contribution for the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Rome Treaty and the Cultural Weekend celebrating Brussels as the "Capitale de l'Europe".
Art money is an original work of art. Behind each piece of art money there is an artist. Every art money piece measures 12cm x 18cm complete with serial number, year, date, web address, and the artist's name and signature. The purchasing power of art money is equivalent to 27 euros, increasing in value by 5 euros a year to a maximum of 62 euros over seven years. Art money is then both art, legal tender and an investment.
The project began in 1997. A young Danish artist named Lars Kræmmer sat in his studio booming with dusty art, but with an empty wallet. As Lars Kræmmer puts it: "I did not have enough money to pay the bills and no promise of an income in sight (.) Suddenly, I had the crazy thought, that we constantly speak of "making money" when in fact no one does!" Hence the beginning of a project that has grown to embrace over 7 million people worldwide.
When the currency is set in circulation the piece comes into contact with dealers and collectors worldwide. Art money is thereby contributing to a growing network of artists from different countries and cultures. With Bank of International Art Money(BIAM)'s network web site (www.art-money.org), as a central exchange for much art money, all interested parties can keep in touch with each other.
At present, 844 artists from 31 nations are registered as art money producers. 917 companies world wide officially accept art money as partial or full payment and more than 50 million euro has been issued in art money since 1998. Several artists owe their financial survival to art money, with a growing number coming to the notice of the art buying public through the network. The artists' specific profiles are posted on BIAM's web site (www.art-money.org), bringing them to the notice of dealers and galleries, worldwide.
The Institute exhibits more than 300 different art money pieces from BIAM's archives, both contemporary and older works, from Danish as well as international artists. During the exhibition it will be possible to purchase original art money for 27 euros each among more than 600 art money for sale.
It is possible to visit the exhibition at The Danish Cultural Institute in Rue de Cornet 22, 1040 Brussels (5 min from Metro Schuman) every weekday from 9.00-16.00 until the 27 th of april.
Young versus old
In connection with the conference 'Towards a Multiage Society: The Cultural Dimension of Age Policies' held in Brussels the 29 th - 30 th of November, there was an art exhibition on the topic of the conference: ageing policies and culture policies. Brian Ravnholt Jepsen and Martin Richard Olsen exhibited in cooperation drawings and paintings and Tommy Ipsen exhibited two video installations.
Brian Ravnholt Jepsen is a young and promising artist from Copenhagen, and Martin Richard Olsen is an older artist who has been performing for many years. Through their personal style they showed the many different and similar aspects of being young and old.
Brian Ravnholt Jepsen
Martin Richard Olsen
The video installations by Tommy Jepsen dealt with life, birth and death and accompany the pictures very well. One of the installations was an interactive one, which allowed the beholder to control the work of art and explore it by himself. Watch the videoinstallation 'Natalis', one of the installations at the exhibition at Tommy Ipsen's homepage.
Nordic Christmas at Gaasbeek Castle
In the weekend of December 16-17, the Nordic Christmas traditions could be experienced at Gaasbeek Castle. In the settings of the old picturesque castle and through a big diversity of activities, it was possible to taste, hear, fold, dance, sing and watch the Nordic Christmas. Typical Christmas tables, trees and decoration from each of the Nordic countries could be seen. There was workshops where you could do Danish folded paper hearts and stars or build a Swedish pepper cake house. The Finnish Santa Claus came, and a Swedish Santa Lucia procession sang. Furthermore, you could dance around the Christmas tree with Icelandic children and taste traditional Nordic Christmas food, drinks and sweets such as rice porridge, 'glühwein' and blueberry cake with sour cream.
The event was arranged by Gaasbeek Castle, the Norwegian, Swedish and Icelandic embassies and the Finnish and Danish Cultural Institutes.
The website of Kasteel van Gaasbeek.
Belgica 2006
The big international philately fair Belgica 2006 took place on November 16-20 at Heyzel in Brussels. On occasion of the fair, Belgian Post and Post Danmark issued a common stamp, and therefore, Denmark was invited as a special guest at Belgica 2006. In connection with the exhibition, Beligian Post created a booth presenting Danish design, art and music. At the booth, you could, for instance, experience Danish design and lamps from LeKlint, the company Zigzign with slices from the Danish artist Lene Frantzen, Linie Design with a shag-pile rug, and Fritz Hansen furniture. Furthermore, Silkeborg Kunstmuseum in Denmark and Visit Denmark in the Netherlands donated art and tourist material. Malena Larsen from Denmark sang accompanied by Roel Peeters on piano and together they constituted the musical entertainment representing Denmark.
Read more on the Belgica website.
Sissan Richardt and Daniel Milan - Danish Drawing and Graphics
In connection with The Day of Languages 2006 the two Danish artists Sissan Richardt and Daniel Milan exhibited their drawings and graphics in the Danish Cultural Institute Benelux. In the works of both the artists you could find words and short texts as artistic idiom.
Sissan Richardt
Sissan Richardt has a long artistic education behind her. She has been studying in Aarhus in Denmark, Milan and graduated this year from Designskolen Kolding in Denmark. Furthermore she has many exhibitions and workshops behind her, which has been held in both Denmark, Beijing and Sicily. As an illustrator she has produced many illustrations for books and short stories. The works of Sissan are characterised by words and long text passages decorated with raw sketch drawings and dark vigorous colours. As she herself says: "Bright colours suck!"
Daniel Milan
The works of Daniel Milan also has a literary content often by a forthright and narrative character. In addition they are accompanied by his personal drawn line and representations of pictures and symbols in everyday life's media. Like Sissan, Daniel also has a long education behind him. For a number of years he studied ecological agriculture in both Denmark and Spain, some years later he started studying art in several art schools in Denmark and Germany, had private art lectures at Danish artist Kaj Nyborg before he was admitted to the Royal Danish Art Academy, where he graduated in 2006. Daniel is co-editor in the publishing house "Smittekilde Press" and is also a member of the artist community "Selvsving". For more information look at his homepage here.
Bjørg Thorhallsdottir
The Icelandic artist Bjørg Thorhallsdottir exhibited her art works at the Danish Cultural Institute in Brussels, then her exhibition moved to new galleries. She has studied art in Barcelona, Reykjavik, Oslo and in Toulouse. Her art works are among the Norwegian Government's art collection and at Barcelona University.
Rygtet / Het gerucht
Graphic exhibition with contemporary Danish and Dutch artists: Lars Grenaae, Tine Hind, Sys Hindsbo, Eske Kath, John Olsen, Finn Naur Petersen, Steen Rasmussen , Erika Severin, Mette Winckelmann, Camiel Andriessen, Cees Andriessen , Pieter Becks, Ad Gerritsen, Jasper van der Graaf, Peter Jordaan, Rinke Nijburg, Wouter van Riessen, Gerda Ten Thije, Rob Voerman
in 2006 at CODA, Apeldoorn.
Tine Hind
Koningsstraat 35 Rue Royale- B-1000 Bruxelles - Belgien
tel: +32 (0)2 230 73 26 - fax: +32 (0)2 230 55 65
www.dkibenelux.org - info@dkibenelux.org