Art Brussels has just opened, and for the last time at a location near the city’s symbol, the Atomium (from the 1958 World Expo). Next year, the fair will take place at Tour & Taxis, in the former Royal Customs House, completed c. 1906 and much more convenient given #Brussels #TerribleTraffic. Brussels has become one of the key centers of the European art scene for both artists and galleries (Belgium has the most collectors per capita of any country—also convenient). Some talk of it usurping Berlin. Well, talk is cheap. More controversial-sounding but nearer the mark, Brussels is usurping Paris, which, after the Charlie Hebdo attacks rallied the populous, is now drifting back into a comfortable torpor.
But BRUSSELS! Like Berlin, it is a poor, working-class city and the capital of Europe (smile). But the food is better and, as mentioned, it has more than three collectors who actually live there. Anyway, Art Brussels itself is a beautifully designed, well organized affair that goes to great lengths to look after collectors and media alike (Randian is staying at the very nice Sofitel). Not something to be thrown away lightly.
Angela De la Cruz at Galerie Krinzinger (Vienna)
There were a great many good, interesting, amusing and beguiling works on show, though mainly in the more established main hall (Xavier Hufkens, Almine Rech, Barbara Gladstone, Daniel Templon, Galleria Continua, James Cohan, Galerie Lelong, among others). Nevertheless, among emerging galleries there was also a good deal to see. Here is a selection of the best of both worlds. The only thing missing—given the focus of Randian—was Chinese collectors. No doubt that will change soon. After all, Beijingers are used to traffic jams.
Laura Ford “Days of Judgment Cat 2″ (2012) at New Art Center (Salisbury, UK)—after Michelangelo’s “The Fall of Man and Expulsion from Paradise”, 1509-10, Sistine Chapel
Artist Honoré δ’O at Kristof De Clercq gallery (Ghent)—unpronounceable name but the most fun and beguiling booth.
Detail of Yue Minjun “The Tao Laughter No.4″
Hans-Peter Feldmann at Galeria Massimo Minini (Brescia, Italy)
Tony Oursler “Pris” 2015 at Bernier/Eliades (Athens)—works by Oursler were present at a number of booths.
Klara Hobza solo presentation at Waldburger Wouters (Brussels)
Ugo Rondinone at Gladstone Gallery (New York & Brussels)
Shintaro Miyake at Tomio Koyama Gallery (Tokyo)
Hiromi Tango at sullivan+strumpf (Sydney)
Paul Wallach “As Is” 2013 at Galerie Jaeger Bucher (Paris)
Xu Zhen “Under Heaven” (2014) at James Cohan Gallery (New York & Shanghai)
Tony Oursler “Strawberry Panel” (2013) at Baronian (Brussels)
Haim Steinbach at André Simoens (Knokke, Belgium)
Jason Brooks “What so FJohnny” (2013) at Marlborough Contemporary (London)
Thomas Hauseago at Galerie Michael Janssen (Berlin & Singapore)
Sarah Fauguet & David Cousinard “Vestige” 2012 at Galerie Joseph Tang (Paris)
Giovanni Anselmo at tucci russo studio (Torre Pellice, Italy)
Performance by Horio at Axel Vervoordt (Antwerp & Hong Kong)
Jannis Kounellis at Galerie Lelong (New York & Paris)
Catherine Ahearn “Beater Barrow: at Office Baroque (Brussels)
Sherrie Levine “Detail of the wall frieze of the Ishtar Gate (c.550 B.C.) – Striking Bull” 2007 at
Nicolas Momein at Galerie Bernard Ceysson (Luxembourg, Paris, Geneva, Saint-Étienne)
Kader Attia at Galerie Krinzinger (Vienna)
Pascale Marthine Tayou at Galeria Continua (Beijing, Les Moulins, San Gimignano)
Hans op de Beeck at Galeria Continua (Beijing, Les Moulins, San Gimignano)–another artist whose work was present at several booths.
Chen Han at Hadrien de Montferrand Gallery (Beijing)
Willem Oorebeek at Robert Miller Gallery (New York)
Chiharu Shiota “State of Being (Keys)” 2015 at Galerie Daniel Templon (Paris & Brussels)
