Cultural Compass: Bozar's opening week, RAIN on stage, Molenfest and more

Exhibitions, music, architecture, books, festivals… this is Belga English's pick of cultural activities in Flanders and Brussels, published every Sunday.

Bozar’s opening week from 16 to 26 September boasts performance, music, literature, art and film. This season's A Room Full of New Voices is all about love, friendship and the social power of relationships in art.

French novelist Edouard Louis and philosopher-sociologists Didier Eribon and Geoffroy de Lagasnerie, a throuple, see friendship as a liberating, inspiring force transcending the sexual revolution of May 1968. Their text written especially for Bozar opens the season with thought-provoking ideas. Meanwhile, filmmaker Apichatpong Weerasethakul presents his first virtual reality work, offering an immersive dive into dreams and memories.

The exhibition Friends, Lovers, Partners celebrates the 20th-century artist couple Hans/Jean Arp and Sophie Taeuber, who bridged the gap between fine and applied arts. Renowned pianists the Jussen brothers illustrate the collaborative spirit of performance, accompanied by concerts featuring classical, jazz and Persian music.

Bozar's new initiative, Staging the Concert, reimagines the spatial experience of concerts. The opening event features a performance of Béla Bartók’s Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta in a transformed Henry Le Bœuf hall. Sundays are Family Day, featuring the HOP FROG Fanfare, workshops and a Dadaist brass band. Bozar concludes the month with Bozar All Over the P(a)lace - Nocturne Arp.

The dancers of Opera Ballet Vlaanderen once again breathe new life into an iconic ensemble performance: RAIN by Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker. The celebrated choreographer returned to two great loves: pure dance and the minimalist music of the American composer Steve Reich. To the mesmerising, pulsating tones of Reich’s cult composition Music for 18 Musicians (1976), 10 dancers inhabit the stage while performing a sequence of virtuoso dance phrases with De Keersmaeker’s powerful choreography.

From 11 to 21 September, Ghent Opera will host the striking performances, then the troupe will move to Concertgebouw Brugge for two performances on 23 and 24 October. The production will then take a break before finishing at Antwerp’s Stadsschouwburg from 22 to 26 January.

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From 12 to 22 September, dance, circus, music, theatre, debate, film and parties will fill parks and stages in Molenbeek for the annual Molenfest. At locations such as CinéMaximiliaan, Kaaitheater, Recyclart, the Circus School and more, artists will come together for a series of events to promote dialogue and art.

The Practice of Democracy provides unexpected speeches in various meeting places in Brussels. The speeches are not by politicians but by young members of the community. Questions such as “What could this mean for our democratic system and the way we live together? How do we organise ourselves or make joint decisions? What do we want to decide together?" are the premise for stories by young people from Brussels about how they see society.

In the same vein, Feral looks at how art influences everyday life in Brussels. “Feral is urban, interstitial, peripheral and feral and celebrates live arts in the city and its fringes. It questions the commons and their rough edges, urbanity and rurality, landscape and intimacy,” the coordinators of the project say.

“Flying our flag of super-diversity and solidarity, a host of artists, cultural houses, local organisations, youngsters, scenesters and residents will demonstrate why we deserve to be Europe’s Cultural Capital in 2030.” This is the battle cry for this year's Molenfest.

The prestigious Sofie Van de Velde Gallery in Antwerp will open its season with two powerhouse artists. Charline Tyberghein, born and raised in Antwerp, creates witty, surrealist-inspired paintings. Her expo Unapologetically Sorry captures her playful yet purposeful pieces. Her work has been exhibited at Kunsthalle Bielefeld, M HKA Antwerp and Beursschouwburg, and is in prominent Belgian collections.

Lima’s Shirley Villavicencio Pizango blends her Peruvian roots with European experiences in vibrant portraits and still lifes. Her work explores identity and cultural heritage, often featuring family, tropical elements and bold colours. Influenced by Matisse, Picasso and Inca culture, her art challenges Western narratives and her expo À mon regard tu te dérobes is no different. The two artists’ works are on show until 6 October.

Meanwhile, renowned Belgian photographer Stephan Vanfleteren presents his show ATELIER at Hangar Gallery in Bussels. His striking black-and-white portraits feature both famous and anonymous subjects, in work ranging from photojournalism to thematic essays. This exhibition showcases portraits and still lifes, exploring beauty through natural and artificial light, often set against grey theatre curtains.

Additional cultural coverage from Belga this week includes: Director of Mu.ZEE Oostende becomes general director of international art fair TEFAF and Six Belgian cities officially compete for title of European Capital of Culture 2030.
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Ongoing events

Whats the Story? KMSKA​​
​Come Closer, Middleheim​
​​​5,000 cultural objects from the DR Congo, MAS​
​​Jean-Michel Folon, A Journey in Brussels ​​
​To Antartica, The Polar Pioneers of the Belgica, MAS​
​The Lives of Animals, M KHA

 (MOH)

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