Rear-viewing reviews
Being involved in a retrospective presentation with additional collation effort and analysis, I found that there is a general tendency in this field which I welcome... another look at / second take on works by people who never made much of an issue about their 'careers' and such, but who's work and activities are up there with the best – if not even better...
As with icebergs, the main body of a cultural field is below the surface and what can be seen is just a chance corner of the whole – before it turns over and we se another part – in the meantime we tend to forget the submerged and see parts of it only when the turn takes place... short moments indeed and that is why I appreciate even to most flighty glimpse...
The most amicable of these short shows is the presentation of 'Patrice Verhofstadt et ses collectionneurs' initiated by Dominique Thirion and friends at the Maison de Culture Uccle, - a nice selection of work by an artist unknown to the markets but very much appreciated by friends, and, with some effort such as this show, might still gain a place in the subconscious of the art scene – even if this latter is so preoccupied with what is new and fresh it does not have much time for the precursors of todays tendencies...
It is a rather unique moment, with a lot of works not seen for ages being shown, and probably will not be seen again for some time... a gathering of friends as it were – hopefully there can still be a publication of sorts to document the fact, since otherwise it is again only for thoses that were there...
More systematic perhaps is the approach taken by Ronny van de Velde, now engaged more than ever to present his collections and curiosities, away from the big commercial presence he had for so many years – and yes, the one that I prefer is Wout Vercammen, who as an old friend had always been in the wings, but as Nihil impossible to show – until the very end at least, and now again, in various contexts from the good ol days – illustrating not only his talent but positioning of his stance in the ever-important sixties...
Various works to be seen in the InBox-series at the MuHKA, but also Rossaert and around town... the beginning of a major posthumous careeer perhaps, and why not (really fifty-fifty)...
Even more thought out and systematic is the presentation of collections allsorts by Eric Fabre at his Cosmos garage – dating back a bit further but essentially along the same thought-lines;
Chaosmos, la ligne oublié – inspired by the book by Marc Partouche, bohèmes, avant-garde et art contemporaine de 1830 a nos jours – tracing poetical, scientific and personal lines through the historic, the live and the (nearly-) forgotten – again, an important exercise in these times of quick-fix and superficial associations – these being more tenuous but stronger by wit...
Written texts and conferences to accompany the viewer, interaction with live-and-kicking artists, a sumptious small gathering that gives you brain a good work out as well as your aesthetic palate.
More to come (until mai 1st)
