Pierre Besson, Brussels

Thirty years ago, French artist Pierre Besson was a sculptor. These days he busies himself as an overlord of illusion. His artificially constructed and meticulously fabricated images are based on installations built from everyday objects, particularly bits of computers. In one instance, Besson uses the carcass of a computer to help him create the image of a futuristic building, blending aspects of architecture, sculpture and photography. In this artificial and deserted world, he exposes today’s technologic excess and questions our future whilst skillfully mucking around with perspectives, a technique that reminds us at times of Renaissance paintings, Braque or Picasso. Heavy stuff.

Until 3rd March

Joye Gallery, Chaussée de Vleurgat 125 Vleurgatsesteenweg – 1050 Brussels

www.joyegallery.be

Catclub, Brussels

A new era is nigh: Catclub kicks off the year in a brand new venue, a big-ass loft in Brussels Forest that can host an even bigger crowd than before – a move that had to come sooner or later, judging by the sets-appeal of upwardly mobile South African whippersnapper Culoe De Song on the decks. His Deep House-inspired Afro-Beat, characterised by tribal vocals and hypnotic thumps are set to keep you up all night. Support by Brussels-based DJs Soumaya Dancemachine and Ben Marzys. A late one, guaranteed.

4th February

Catclub, Studio 2, Avenue Van Volxemlaan 14 – 1190 Brussels

www.catclub.be

ProPulse Festival, Brussels

Belgium’s knee-deep in talent, and ProPulse Festival, a “do” organized by the Performing Arts Federation of Wallonia-Brussels, is the new place to parade it. Replacing the well-known Boutik Rock and EntreVues, this is the latest hot date for up-and-coming bands and theatre and dance artists, hooking them up with agents, managers and others from the professional art community for six days on the trot. This weekend’s events are all about music, with Friday night dedicated to pop (from Kupid Kids to Applause), while Saturday occupies itself with Belgium’s most promising electronic acts, including Squeaky Lobster, Ssaliva and Glÿph, to name but a few. In ten years you can tell your mates “I was there when (insert band name here) were just a weirdo garage band nobody had heard of.” That could be nice.

3rd and 4th February

Botanique

www.botanique.be

Atelier Solarshop, Antwerp

This is a good one. Antwerp’s Atelier Solarshop, a creative nerve centre for young artists and designers, is hosting a four day pop-up shop, selling vintage furniture and design bits and bobs. In its 7th edition, the shop offers a sumptuous selection of pieces rooted in Scandinavian industrial design, together with some hand-picked contemporary objects and army treasures. To spice up the shopping experience, they’re bringing out the booze on Friday, with a special cocktail night starting at 19h00. Featured designers include ANVE and Stephanie Schneider to HUI-HUI, Jan-Jan Van Essche and more.

From 2nd to 5th February

Atelier Solarshop, Dambruggestraat 48 – 2060 Antwerp

www.ateliersolarshop.be

Dubieus Design, Antwerp

Only 60 meters away from Atelier Solarshop there’s an even bigger vintage shopping mecca: For the fourth year in a row Designcenter Winkelhaak is hosting the winter edition of their annual design fair. The centre will be flogging curiosities, collector’s items and design classics dating from the fifties and onwards – a feast for vintage fetishists. Buying chairs as an investment may sound a bit strange, but we think it guarantees a bit more excitement than keeping a close eye on the boring old stock market. And what’s more: this year’s fair includes a special vinyl sale on Friday. Step this way, music nerds and nerdettes.

Designcenter Winkelhaak, Lange Winkelhaakstraat 26 – 2060 Antwerp

From 3rd to 4th February

www.winkelhaak.be

Heartbreaktunes presents LA DISPUTE vs. FORMER THIEVES vs. DEAFHEAVEN vs. HIEROPHANT, Antwerp

Three Americans and an Italian walk into a bar… or, three US bands and an Italian one walk into a youth centre in Antwerp, and pursue a dodgily loud evening of punk, exploring the range from hardcore and shoegazing to post-rock and black metal. Whilst American five-piece La Dispute wax delightful with a peculiar mixture of emotional introspectiveness and dynamic punk attitude, Californians Deafheaven make you think of My Bloody Valentine, shifting constantly between ugliness and beauty. Italians Hierophant are here on their mission to prove, once and for all, that punk is defo not dead. A dark, loud affair, and not for the tender-eared.

3rd February

Kavka, Oudaan 14 – 2000 Antwerp

www.heartbreaktunes.com

ITAL, Dynooo vs. Cupp Cave, Ghent

Introduced to Ghent by independent music platform Subbacultcha!, Daniel Martin-McCormick is set to fill the weekend stage with solo project ITAL. Conserving some of the musical mannerisms he acquired as a Sex Worker or as one half of Mi Ami, the New York producer wallows in classic house and techno. Challenging his audience with dissonant sound and unconventional structure, Martin-McCormick specialises in long, stretched-out synth sweeps and walls of feedback. Like many of his colleagues on 100% SILK records, ITAL takes pride in blurring the boundaries between artistic creation and dance music. As a special treat just for you, bustling Belgian producers Cupp Cave and Dynooo will join in for a riveting live set, merging slow tempo techno, atmocore and broken house.

5th February

DOK kantine, Koopvaardijlaan – 9000 Ghent

www.dokgent.be

Art Truc Troc, Brussels

Courtesy of Truc Troc

If you’ve always dreamed of having an original art piece to prettify your apartment, but couldn’t foot the bill, now is the chance to get your hands on one. And lo, it won’t cost you any cash. Art Truc Troc is an art fair for the less-than-mega-rich art lovers amongst us, where works by 200 multidisciplined artists are displayed throughout the BOZAR, from sculptures to paintings to photos. Transactions here are not governed by cash: creativity, for three nights only, is capital. Visitors are requested to jot down their ‘payment’ proposals on post-it-notes and attach them next to their piece of choice, offering in exchange a service, a thing, or whatever can be dredged from the deepest pools of the imagination that just might be worth something to someone. It’s all terribly bohemian and accessible art-ish.

From 27th to 29th January

Bozar Centre of Fine Arts, Rue Ravensteinstraat 23 – 1000 Brussels

www.tructroc.be

Daan van Golden, Brussels

Courtesy of Wiels

Pop art, minimalism, postmodernism, geometric abstraction – Dutch artist Daan van Golden has been pinned to many art history ism’s, and yet continues to stand somewhere on his own, a unique claim in contemporary painting. The ‘Apperception’ exhibition is the first retrospective of van Golden’s work that Belgium has hosted, showcasing all aspects of his art, from major pieces to the newer additions. Using a special painting technique – a slowed-down, meditative exercise inspired by Zen philosophy – he creates art that manages to plaster the extraordinary all over the ordinary.

Opens 27th January, 18h30-21h30

Exhibition runs until 29th April

Wiels, Avenue Van Volxemlaan 354 – 1190 Brussels

www.wiels.org

Don Brown

Courtesy of Almine Rech Gallery

English sculptor Don Brown’s head-to-toe women illustrate his knack for combining two altogether contrasting worlds: whilst his large-scale sculptures show off his craftsmanship for Italian neo-classicism and the Greco-Roman era, references to the twenty-first century abound. High heels, sunglasses, modern hairstyles and, especially, far-from-voluptuous bodies, make it clear that the spectator is dealing with the woman of today. As an added bonus, Brown photographs his creations, using the images to highlight certain elements or perspectives. This exhibition juxtaposes, for the first time, Brown’s acrylic, bronze and silver statues with his large-sized photo prints. A fascinating translation of classical sculpture into our own time.

Opens 27th January

Almine Reche Gallery, Rue de l’Abbaye 20 Abdijstraat – 1050 Brussels

www.alminerech.com

Gym Class Heroes, Brussels

With elements of rap, rock, funk and R&B, Gym Class Heroes are difficult to typecast. Even though their sound has a strong hip hop feel, this Geneva, NY four-piece regularly star alongside rock, punk and metal artists. Plus, these guys from don’t use samples in their music, something rather unorthodox in hip hop. Having just released their fifth LP ‘The Papercut Chronicles II’ last year (a reference to their 2003 album that landed them their record deal), they’re rocking up to Brussels to show off some new stuff. Expect serious fun.

29th January

VK, Rue de l’Ecole 76 Schoolstraat – 1080 Brussels

www.vkconcerts.be

Yamamoto Masao and ARPAÏS du bois, Antwerp

Courtesy of Gallery 51

The exhibition ‘Where they met’ is as a dialogue between Japanese photographer Yamamoto and Belgian artist ARPAÏS du bois, two maestros from two different worlds. The exhibition juxtaposes Yamamoto’s subtle and powerful prints that focus on the relationship between man and nature, and ARPAÏS du bois’s drawings, his personal responses to the chaos of everyday life and the overload of image that constantly bombards us. A captivating approach to reopening the dialogue between photography and the graphic arts.

Opens tonight, 18h00

Fifty One Fine Art Photography, Zirkstraat 20 - 2000 Antwerp

www.gallery51.com

Last days to see: Wouter Feyaerts, Ghent

Young hot-to-trot Belgian artist Wouter Feyaerts’ ‘thing’ is posters, and the S.M.A.K museum is currently showcasing 452 pieces of his work in a dense, blocky grid in their Ghent gallery. We read an email exchange between the artist and art critic Wim Van Mulder, included in the exhibition book. Feyaert says: “Placards have an exciting ambiguity. They have been used both by those in power and the underground, the resistance. They are a tool of the establishment but also of the anti-establishment. For this series to function optimally as a whole, it had to be displayed ‘in a place of power’.” Intriguing exploration, worthy subject.

Until 29th January

S.M.A.K., Citadelpark – 9000 Ghent

www.smak.be

Les Transardentes, Liège

This weekend brings Belgium’s first major musical event of the year, Les Transardentes, the baby sister of summer outdoor festival Transardentes. The past four years have seen this shindig establish itself as one of the most important dates in electronic music. With this years headliners Boys Noize, Birdy Nam Nam and Cassius plus an eclectic laundry list line-up besides, it maintains the reputation. A must for electric lovers. Big red X on your weekend calendar.

28th January

Halles des Foires, Avenue Maurice Denis 4 – 4000 Liège

www.lestransardentes.be

If you were to illustrate the word ‘love’ through one photograph, what would it be? We’re planning on running a photography gallery on our website on Monday 13th February to be entitled The Love Movement. The idea is simple: curate an online collection of photographs that, in one way or the other, allude to the word ‘love’.

So, ‘they’ got us for this round then?

Well, true to Word form, and I’ve got the incomparable Benoit Berben to thank for this, we came up with a solution. Push back the February-March edition to June (meaning our grey album will now be coming out on 1^st June, instead of 3^rd February as originally planned) and get cracking on April-May’s orange album, which comes out on 30^th March.

Call it creative accounting for the advertising-dependent independent magazine. Switch things around a little, take it as a man (it sounds easy like that, but I can tell you a couple of our contributors ain’t too happy to hear that the stories they’ve been scrambling to file on time will now only be coming out in four months) and move on.

Move on because there’s lots in the pipeline (a Valentine’s special coming up online beginning of February, a new website by mid-February as well as a photography-only iPad app come May), not to mention our next print edition, the orange album, which we clearly won’t be defeated on this time around.

Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me.

Christopher Coppers, Brussels

Brussels-based cut-up artist Christopher Coppers has a thing about ripping up magazines. Whether carving out a new cover for them, stripping out their souls to give them a new life or shredding their pages to use as coating for other objects, Coppers reworks and revisits magazines with his signature, destructive touch. Although his latest work has taken somewhat of a political stance – he recently set about recreating the G8 countries’ flags using nothing but shredded magazine pages – Coppers retains his uncanny ability to infuse his work with a light-hearted irony that, really, is the single reason we like his work so much. Maybe that’s why we once asked him to recreate our very own flag.

Opening tonight at 17h00

Exhibition runs until 25th February

Bodson Emelinckx, Rue de Henninstraat 70 – 1050 Brussels

www.bodson-emelinckx.com

The Criime and Asura, Brussels

The Criime, a Brussels-based tribal-infused, tech-house two-piece from Luxembourg founded by Andrea Mancini and Fabio Picariello in 2009, have stirred quite some attention of late with the release of their debut EP ‘Fidji’ (released on Finnish label Top Billin). Confirming its place amongst the city’s nightlife circuit, newcomer Mr Wong puts on a night which pairs the fresh-faced duo with Parisian DJ project Asura (think sombre and melancholic beats). Their fourth album, ‘360’ came out in 2010 on Ultimae Records. Get your dancing shoes on because this one promises to be long.

Tonight, at 22h00

Mr Wong, Rue de la Vierge Noire 10 Zwarte Lievevrouwstraat – 1000 Brussels

www.mrwong.be

Tomas Alonso, Brussels

“I would like my objects to be used, lived with and enjoyed,” says designer Tomas Alonso about his work. Accordingly, his pared-down designs combine functionality and practicality with a quirky elegance. By working with different materials in an original way, the Spanish-born, London-based designer explores structure and form whilst eliminating all unnecessary elements. This exhibition puts forward some of Alonso’s most recent works, such as his Mr. Light series of lamps, and makes good his reputation for down-to-earth, pragmatic  furniture-making. It is no surprise, then, that his works have gained a place in London’s Design Museum‘s permanent collection. Not to be missed.

Until 5th February

Victor Hunt Gallery, Rue Lambert Crickxstraat 16 – 1070 Brussels

www.victor-hunt.com

Zero Gravity Revolt, Brussels

‘Zero Gravity Revolt’ is more than just your ordinary exhibition. The works of Moscow-based artist Nikolay Oleynikov, part of the Russian collective Chto Delat, are based on bringing people together from different backgrounds and disciplines and building temporary communities that actively participate in the creation of the artwork. The end result is a mural juxtaposed with sketches, scripts and research material stemming from countless group meetings. The subject: early Soviet science fiction from the 1920s. Subversive and thought-provoking, Oleynikov’s didactic murals are always influenced by surrealism, punk culture, comics and the Soviet monumental school.

Until 11th February

Zero Gravity Revolt, Avenue Van Volxemlaan 295 – 1190 Brussels

www.kmplt.be

Chilly Gonzales, Brussels

Grammy-nominee, world-record holder (longest ever piano play), prodigy producer, versatile vocalist. It’s fair to say Canadian-born, Paris-based Gonzales (whom we interviewed back in May 2011, read the interview here) has more than a talent up his sleeve. And, following his cancelled show on 22nd December, he’s (finally) back in Brussels touring his latest album: ‘The Unspeakable Chilly Gonzales’. Expect lots of laughter, wit and a good dose of playful arrogance.

22nd January

Botanique, Rue Royale 236 Koningsstraat – 1210 Brussels

www.botanique.be

Ben Murphy, Antwerp

The building of the United Nations‘ headquarters near New York City’s East River is without doubt an urban icon and an obligatory stop for all visitors to the Big Apple. Only a handful have been able to venture inside the building though, which adds to its sense of mystery and general aura. Over a period of 15 months, British photographer Ben Murphy had the opportunity to capture its hidden spaces on film, creating 100 images that in a way reveal a sublime and melancholic beauty on the backdrop of power-broking corridors.

Until 26th February

Stieglitz 19, Klapdorp 2 – 2000 Antwerp

www.stieglitz.be

From Back Home, Ghent

Anders Petersen and JH Engström are two of Sweden’s leading and most important photographers. The exhibition ’From Back Home’ is the result of a seven-year long collaboration between the two. From 2001 up until 2008, the pair photographed the Värmland region, a barely-populated region in Sweden from which they both originate. Their resulting captivating, melancholic and slightly dark pictures pay tribute to the people, places and landscapes of their childhood. A fascinating and very personal journey down memory lane.

Until 29th January

ZebraStraat, Zebrastraat 32 – 9000 Ghent

www.zebrastraat.be

American artist Shirley Jaffe’s works are all about colour. Colours are what determine her compositions and generate form, stimulating the viewer’s gaze and pleading for experiencing art just by looking at it. Her geometrical, flat paintings are clearly inspired by abstract expressionism and the innovative movements in American painting since the mid-forties. Jaffe was part of a group of young American and Canadian artsits that moved to Paris after World War II and became referred to as the Second Generation Abstract Expressionists, including artists as Ellsworth Kelly or James Bishop.

Until 14th January

Galerie Greta Meert, Rue Du Canal 13 Vaartstraat, 1000 Brussels

www.galeriegretameert.com

Design Brasil, Brussels

Even though for a long time design was not considered as a separate discipline but rather integrated in other related fields as art, industry or architecture, Brazil’s design history goes back to the 19th century. With the creation of the country’s first design agency in 1958 and the foundation of an Industrial Design School in Rio de Janeiro a few years later, design became more established. This exhibition especially puts forward products from the famous Brazilian designers Fernando & Humberto Campana who, inspired by their country’s street life and carnival culture, created objects made of found pieces as wood waste in combination with advanced technologies. At the same time Design Brasil gives a comprehensive overview of a large number of Brazilian designers whose works are characterised by vibrant colours and a certain playfulness.

Until 5th February

Design Vlaanderen, Rue de la Chancellerie 19 Kanselarijstraat, 1000 Brussels

www.designvlaanderen.be

Ferdinand Schirren, Brussels

Even though always a bit in the shadow of the most prominent Belgian Fauvist, Rik Wouters, Ferdinand Schirren was a pioneer of his time who in the beginning of the 20th century greatly contributed to the emergence of what we now refer to as “Brabant Fauvism”. With this exhibition the Royal Museum of Fine Arts continues to put forward some of Belgium’s lesser-known artists who clearly deserve more spotlight. Schirren’s paintings, that mostly display rather simple subjects taken from everyday life or landscapes, are defined by glowing, vibrant colours and a precise composition whilst rejecting symbolism. Reminiscing French Fauvists such as Matisse, Schirren’s focus on colours became the overriding theme in his oeuvre.

Until March 2012

Royal Museum of Fine Arts, Rue Royal 3 Regentschapsstraat, 1000 Brussels

www.fine-arts-museum.be

Baxter Dury, Brussels

Six years after his last album, English singer-songwriter Baxter Dury is back with his latest record ‘Happy Soup’, an intimate collection of laid-back, warm and intriguing songs. At times melancholic and dreamy, at others optimistic and uplifting, Baxter Dury has become quite good at something he originally never wanted to do: Be a musician and follow into the footsteps of his famous father (Blockheads punk-era hero Ian Dury). With the ten tracks on ‘Happy Soup’ that Baxter cryptically describes as ‘seaside psychedelia’, the artist proves once again that he does not have to be afraid of his father’s long shadow.

Listen to the single ‘Claire’:

14th January

Botanique, Rue Royale 236 Koningsstraat, 1210 Brussels

www.botanique.be

Best Vinyl Art 2011, Brussels

Over the years album artwork has become much more than just a marketing or promotion tool: Designing record covers is considered as an art by many nowadays. It is within this context that Brussels’ Jonas Gallery exhibits a selection of the 50 best album sleeves of 2011 with Das Pop being the only Belgian flag-waver. Also on display are the newest LP covers of The Horrors, Metronomy or Bon Iver, for example. Considering the rise of digital downloads and the decline of buying, it remains to be seen how important the CD format will be in the future.

Until 28th January

Jonas Gallery, Rue de Flandre 35 Vlaamsesteenweg, 1000 Brussels

www.jonasgallery.com

Peter Lindbergh, Antwerp

With his melancholic photographs of international supermodels Linda Evangelista, Kate Moss or even Tatjana Patitz marked by their effortless character and emotional depth, German fashion photographer Peter Lindbergh brought the new faces to worldwide attention. A master of black and white photography, he contributed more than any in shaping the fashion scene of the last 25 years. Combining a selection of Lindbergh’s world famous images with his more recent work as well as a series he shot for Vogue in Berlin in 2009, this comprehensive exhibition is a must for photography and fashion fans alike.

Until 29th January

FotoMuseum, Waalsekaai 47, 2000 Antwerp

www.fotomuseum.be

Johan Grimonprez, Ghent

Mixing reality and fiction, Belgian artist and filmmaker Johan Grimonprez, a child of the first TV generation, explores and documents the ever-growing influence television, cinema, advertising and the news have on our perception of the world and the imminent risk of manipulation. His video works, which play with delusion and deception whilst expos- ing the importance of the moving image in our lives, are based on recycled images taken from news broadcasts, documentary material, Hollywood movies, animated films and commercials as well as from archival items. In his award-winning video collage Dial H-I-S-T-O-R-Y for instance, Grimonprez explores the worldwide history of high-jackings. And it is exactly this kind of uncanny relevance that draws you in. Think of him as a Michael Moore but with an even bigger grin.

Until 29th January

S.M.A.K., Citadelpark, 9000 Ghent

www.smak.be

The Word Magazine, Belgium’s leading fashion, music and culture media brand, is looking for a sales executive to drive its push in digital sales. The role suits a candidate with a passion for the media/advertising/web industry, a proven track record in sales as well as a willingness to be part of one of the most exciting media companies in Belgium.

RESPONSIBILITIES

As sales executive, you will be responsible for:

• Leading the push in digital sales (web, ipad, newsletter)
• Contributing to the development of new business (iPad apps, events, books)
• Developing tailor-made online advertising solutions for clients
• Preparing sales material (sales presentation, analytics reports)
• Coordinating production schedules (formats, deadlines)
• Attending trade fairs and industry events

SKILLS

• Results-driven (your performance indicator is your monthly sales figure)
• A self-starter (getting 50 no’s and still picking up the phone)
• Analytical (ability to spot and capitalise on opportunities)
• Organisation (managing and following up on sales calls)
• Resourcefulness (thinking out of the box)
• Motivation (cold-calling sales leads on a Monday morning)
• Creative (turning a no into a yes)
• Networking and relationship-building (the more contacts the more leads)

REQUIREMENTS

• Independent status (you’ll be working on a project-basis)
• French and Flemish (perfect), English (good)
• University degree
• Perfect presentation
• Driving license with car
• Knowledge of online vocabulary and philosophy a plus

EXPERIENCE

• Two years experience in sales environment, preferably in media/advertising/web industry
• Good knowledge of inner workings of web/media buying/advertising agencies a plus

Graduates with no professional experience might also be considered, depending on their ability to demonstrate their suitability for the position.

REMUNERATION PACKAGE

• Staring salary of 1,150 euros net / month (+ sales commission after first 3 months).
• Telephone allowance (85 euros / month).
• Gas allowance (150 euros / month).

Interested candidates should send their CV as well as an accompanying letter to n.lewis@thewordmagazine.be before Tuesday 31^st January. You will then be called in for a first interview if your profile is of interest.

All photography Pauline Miko

Knitted cardigan from Henrik Vibskov and scarf by SPRB

As its name suggest, Danish designer Henrik Vibskov‘s Nordic Kimono – a heavy-knit oversized cardigan with tie belt – astutely blends Japanese cuts with Nordic patterns, bringing the best of both worlds together. A unique piece that scores house points both for its originality but also for the quality of its craftsmanship, the cardigan is made out of Merino wool and is cut to perfection (fitted but with enough room for manoeuvre should the Christmas dinner get out of hand). Topped by this exquisite hand-knitted scarf-come-hoodie made by Dutch imprint SPRB, and we’ve concocted the perfect solution for winter snuggles.

Thursday 23rd December’s proposal: Maison Fabre gloves and Il Bussetto coin purse

Taking colour-coded style to new heights, we’ve selected two items today guaranteed to bring smiles around the Christmas tree. First up, a family of leather-clad colourtastic gloves for women from venerable French glove-makerMaison Fabre. With a palette that tilts towards the bold and beautiful and a cut that aims for the timeless, the decade-old family business once again confirms its reputation for excellency. Next up is Italian imprint Il Bussetto‘s elegant coin purses, handcrafted using an ancient Italian manufacturing technique. Available in three different sizes and with a range of different colours to choose from, they’ll sit perfectly with the gloves.

Wednesday 21st December’s proposal: Good One sweater and Calourette necklace

As stylish as it is eco-conscious, this effortless, slightly-on-the-quirky-side sweater from London-based sustainable fashion imprint Good One stands out through its colour-patterned design, the label’s trademark look. Combining modern and contemporary features with an innovative production method (known as ‘up-cycling’, a trend that blends sustainable fabrics with reclaimed textiles), this unstructured pullover will appeal to the fashion-fiends keen to add a little lightheartedness to their wardrobes. Add to that the restrained sparkle of this necklace (made of real walnut and real silver) from Calourette – a French jewellery label with a knack for playful and original creations – and you have yourself another sure-fire duo of Christmas pleasers.

Tuesday 20th December’s proposal: Faguo & Johnstons of Elgin high tops and Alexander Wang hoodie

We’re suckers for collaborations here at Word HQ, especially when they bring seemingly opposing forces together. In steps French upstart sneaker label Faguo (The brand that pioneered the ‘buy-plant-support’ business model) and Johnstons of Elgin, a Scottish imprint that is over 200 years old (its tweed and cashmere are favourites of the British Royal Family). The unlikely pair have teamed up  on this Scottish-themed high top that combines Faguo’s modern and elegant design with Johnstons’ exceptional fabrics (the shoe is made of authentic Scottish tweed), bringing a little bit of Highland authenticity to the street. And, since we’re on the topic of street-savyness, we’ve picked out this Alexander Wang wool and cashmere hoodie as the best one to rock with the high tops – hands down.

Monday 19th December’s proposal: Asus N55S and Coffee Spot

In barista world, coffee enjoys the same kind of precision rating as wine. Indeed, the (somewhat belated) emergence of coffee joints in our cities has been accompanied by issues of bean quality, provenance and processing. What’s more, the image of the barista has evolved from one of spotty teenagers trying to make some pocket money to well-travelled, knowledgable coffee captains whose passion for the bean is second to none. Well, they now have a trusted little companion in the shape of this handy little coffee spot book. Designed by DeInvasie.be founder Yves Drieghe and printed in Belgium on an original Heidelberg press, think of the book as your very own little ratings agency on paper, a 100-page strong archive of all your coffee experiences. And, just in case the paper runs out or your pencil gives in, we suggest you take this sleek and sexy new notebook from Asus along. Called the N-Series, its built-in HD camera and Bang & Olufsen powered sound system (complete with subwoofer) makes it ripe for coffee lounge media consumption.

Friday 16th December’s proposal: Contacts DVD and 032c

Contacts is a comprehensive and exhaustive three-DVD boxset collection of movies (English, French and German audio) which profiles the world’s greatest photographers in a fresh and unashamedly personal way. Everyone from Sarah Moon, Jeff Wall or even Henri Cartier-Bresson takes to the camera, revealing secrets behind their iconic images and providing insights into their singular artistic approaches. A captivating behind-the-scenes look, the documentaries often make for exhilarating accounts and manage to picture these legendary photographers in their natural habitat: in the darkroom, on location or in the studio. And, to complete your Sunday afternoon culture fix, a yearly subscription to culture bible 032c (the self-proclaimed Manual for Freedom, Research and Creativity) will ensure you remain on top of your game as far as everything fashion, art and culture is concerned.

Thursday 15th December’s proposal: Santal Massoia perfume by Hermès and l’Eau de Villée limited edition bottle by Manor Grunwald

Since 2004 Jean-Claude Ellena, the mastermind behind all Hermès perfumes, creates elegant scents for the Hermessence line aimed at men as well as women. Santal Massoia is his tenth and most recent composition for the unisex collection, combining a rather unusual mix of two milky woods: the more common sandalwood and the rare massoia, a protected tree species found in New Guinea and Indonesia. Exotic yet discreet, the scent hits all the right notes this winter and is guaranteed to warrant an approving nod from the connoisseurs. And, keeping within today’s fire power tone, we’ve dug out a Manor Grunwald-designed limited edition Eau de Villée bottle that will without a doubt keep spirits high around the Christmas tree.

Wednesday 14th December’s proposal: Swatch Touch and Maison Martin Margiela gloves

Riding the current wave of everything ‘touch’, the Swiss watchmaker-to-the-masses reveals its Swatch Touch, a watch that, you’ve guessed it, comes with a touch screen. Trading in the customary twists and turns for swipes and taps, the Blade Runner-worthy timepiece comes in a timeless black (pictured), although the less serious souls will certainly go for Swatch‘s signature pallet of uplifting colours – everything form pink to turquoise. And, to guarantee you keep both your hands and your new watch nice and warm, these Maison Martin Margiela gloves will undoubtedly do the trick whilst staying true to your ‘presentation is half the battle won’ mantra.

Tuesday 13th December’s proposal: Sony Alpha 77 (with 18-55mm lens) and Louis Vuitton City Guides 2012

With its elegant disposition, this freshly-updated and tightly-packed collection of travel tomes consists of nine separate city guides that take in everything from a town’s museums and tearooms to it’s best shopping addresses and drinking dens. With the addition of a cutesy section entitled ‘Good Things’, the Louis Vuitton City Guides’ focus is clearly on the good life, dishing out innumerable insider tips as to what a city has to offer – from the 22 year old wine cellar in Zagreb to the 150 year old pastry shop in Warsaw. Choosing to give a shine to Europe’s lesser known capitals and satellite cities (Vienna and Salzburg; Naples and Bari; Odessa and St Petersburg), it is the depth of local insights and the simple way in which the intelligence is presented that really makes these city guides the perfect companion for your 2012 city-hopping plans. And, whilst you’re at it, take Sony‘s excellent Alpha 77 D-SLR with 18-55mm lens along in your weekend holdall to guarantee the tip’s many memories are captured to perfection, be it in photo or video mode.

Monday 12th December’s proposal: Marshall Headphones ’The Major’ and Slove ‘Le Danse’

With its synth-driven melodies, catchy guitar riffs and addictive bass lines, Slove’s debut LP ‘Le Danse’ is undoubtedly one of our favourite albums of the year, clocking up impressive amounts of airplay on Word radio. In fact, the band’s sexy-cool blend of uptempo and uplifting dance-pop so captured our hearts and minds that we invited the Parisian duo for a live showcase at our blue album release party (Watch the video here). Easily our number one music pick if we were to draw up our own wish list this Christmas. (And we’d probably throw in these sparkling white headphones by Marshall – ideal for bass-heavy listening.)

Cinema

Be Film Festival, Brussels

The 7th edition of the Be Film Festival, an four-day long showcase of the best of Belgium cinema, not only offers five days of film screenings but also gives cinephiles the chance to meet with directors. Besides several premieres, the festival provides a selection of the best films released in the past year, with certain screenings even accompanied by live music performances – Belgian band The Bony King of Nowhere, for example.

From 19th until 23rd December

Bozar, Rue Ravensteinstraat 23 – 1000 Brussels

Cinematek, Rue Baron Hortastraat 9 – 1000 Brussels

www.befilmfestival.be

Exhibitions

Vincent Fournier, Brussels

Courtesy Joye Gallery

You could say photographer Vincent Fournier has it in for robots and rockets. Having travelled the world on a quest to document the secret and unknown world of space exploration (his passion project has taken the Frenchman everywhere from Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre in Russia and the Mars Desert Research Station in Utah to the Atacama Desert Observatories in Chile, Fournier’s photographs capture with mystifying exactitude the intriguing world of space research, doing so with all the innocence, exuberance and excitement of a child. This is the first comprehensive exhibition of the artist’ work in Brussels, and is sure to delight fans of Solaris and 2001, A Space Odissey alike.

Until 18th January 2012

Joye Gallery, Chaussée de Vleurgat 125 Vleurgatsesteenweg – 1050 Brussels

www.joyegallery.be

Riffs, Brussels

Courtesy of Wiels

Riffs is an exhibition of the wide-ranging works of Yto Barrada. Showcasing everything from the artist’s old and new sculptures, her films as well as her photographs, the exhibition is evidence of Barrada’s engaging narrative – more statement than mere observation (Her pictures display rare plants, children absorbed in a game or a road under construction). Having studied political science, the artist also leads the Cinématheque in Tangier, which makes the current social and political upheaval currently gripping North Africa especially relevant. Indeed, Barrada’s work seeks to show the complexity of  Moroccan reality and everything that continues to resist homogenisation plans.

Until 31st December

Wiels, Av. Van Volxemlaan 354 – 1190 Brussels

www.wiels.org

Music

Chilly Gonzales, Brussels

Grammy-nominatee, world-record holder (longest ever piano play), prodigy producer, versatile vocalist. It’s fair to say Canadian-born, Paris-based Gonzales has more than a talent up his sleeve. He’s back in Brussels tonight touring his latest album: ‘The Unspeakable Chilly Gonzales’. Expect lots of laughter, wit and a good dose of playful arrogance.

22nd December

Botanique, Rue Royale 236 Koningsstraat, 1210 Brussels

www.botanique.be

James Taylor Quartet, Ghent

The James Taylor Quartet, described as one of today’s most important British jazz-pop crossover outfits, comes to Ghent to celebrate its 25th anniversary after having played about 1000 shows and released countless of albums. The band’s latest, titled ‘The Template’, makes good on the quartet’s reputation for blending funk, mod and acid jazz in its very own, distinctive way and continues in its tradition for unabashed, unashamed and unrestricted goodness.

23rd December

Vooruit, Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 23, 9000 Ghent

www.vooruit.be

Café Central Christmas Party, Brussels

If you’re of the type to run for the bar the minute the Christmas tree goes up, chances are you’ll end up at Cafe Central this Saturday. Trading in Stille Nacht for experimental, psychedelic rock, the downtown drinking den invites Brussels-based Shazzula (of acid punk group Aqua Nebula Oscillator) for a night of electric eclecticism. Everything from kraut rock, noise and progressive rock is on the menu.

24th December

Café Central, Rue Borgvalstraat 14 – 1000 Brussels

www.lecafecentral.com

Fuse & Wildfamily Xmas Madness, Brussels

Wildfamily, a collective led by Belgian DJ Igor Vicente and known for its truly wild nights, is set to put the house on fire at Fuse this Saturday, giving yet another perfect excuse for Christmas grumps to escape the dreaded festive proceedings. Igor, known for his dark and deep sound, is also part of Ultrasone, a collaboration with DJ Vernon Bara. Both have played all over Europe (Spain, France, Ukraine, …) and the duo recently started putting out their debut tracks on the reputed Visionquest label. Christmas’ going to be a party this year.

24th December

Fuse, Rue Blaesstraat 208 – 1000 Brussels

www.fuse.be

Wim Catrysse, Brussels

Courtesy of VidalCuglietta

Belgian artist Wim Catrysse’s new triple-screen video installations centre around Kawah Ijen, a volcano in Eastern Java. In September 2010 Catrysse spent 12 days in Indonesia to film the impressive natural spectacle, capturing a rather apocalyptic aura of the sulfur that emerges from the active crater. The chemical element has been associated with Satan’s realm as a symbol of hell, adding a rather sinister notion to the experience. Besides documenting nature in its full-blown wonderment, the artist also draws attention to the mining of sulfur, exposing the everyday business of exploiting the earth. Inspiring references to romanticists as Caspar David Friedrich, Cartrysse’s fascinating, awe-inspiring and somehow otherworldly works of nature motifs focus on the extreme and the outward-bound.

Until 23rd December

Galerie VidalCuglietta, Boulevard Barthélémy 5 Barthélémylaan, 1000 Brussels

www.vidalcuglietta.com

Fiction, Narrative & History, Brussels

Courtesy of D+T Project

Exploring themes of capitalism, corporate cultures and political speech, Fiction, Narrative & History touches upon some highly controversial issues of our times through the works of several different artists. With his video analysis of the Marxist and Communist legacies in today’s world, American artist Zachary Formwalt unravels its close-knit relationships to contemporary symbols and media imagery. Swedish artist duo Goldin&Senneby host a conference surrounding the movie Headless at Regus which delves into the artists’ research into offshore financing and the activities of an imaginary company called Headless. And finally, Dutch video and performance artist Nicoline van Harskamp uses footage of conversations, speeches or autobiographies to reveal the power of the spoken word. High-minded and high- browed stuff not for the faint-hearted.

Until 23rd December

D+T Project, Rue Bosquetstraat 4, 1060 Brussels

www.dt-project.com

Wunderkammer, Brussels

The history of the curiosity cabinet (Wunderkammer in German) dates back as far as the 16th century, when pharmacists and high-society people started collecting rare or curious objects without wanting to be encyclopaedic but trying to reveal the innermost secrets of reality and nature itself. Paradoxically, the pieces on display in the Botanique’s show focus essentially on pure creations made by contemporary Belgian or Belgium-based artists, including Jan Fabre, Michel Mouffe, Charley Case or Jean-Luc Moerman. Tattooed skulls, stuffed and stretched animals – step into a bizarre world of wonders.

From 8th December to 29th January 2012

Botanique, Rue Royale 236 Koningsstraat, 1210 Brussels

www.botanique.be

Is Tropical DJ Set, Brussels

After  having just recently set the Botanique on fire with their catchy electro rock, the London three-piece now comes back to Brussels to show their skills as DJs at the Wood’s monthly Indie Club. The newest Kitsuné output stirred quite some attention this year, not only with its radio hit ‘The Greeks’ that won them a prize at the UK music video awards, but also for covering their faces with scarfs and masks at all times (we interviewed the up-and-comers just a few weeks ago). Besides a mix of Is Tropical’s favourite tunes, Wood’s residents will keep you on your feet with the freshest indie music and timeless rock anthems (think The Clash, Blur or The Drums). Get ready for a hot sweaty night and some real rock’n'roll.

Watch the award-winning video ‘The Greeks’:

16th December

Wood, Chemin de la Meute 1 Jachtkoppelweg, 1000 Brussels

www.istropical.com

Black Lips, Brussels

Fireworks, vomiting, nudity, urinating, enflamed instruments, a chicken: The stage antics of the Atlanta four-piece can be quite a hardcore experience – nothing for the faint-hearted. The band with a penchant for provocation, evident in their latest video, just brought out their 6th studio album on Vice records this year: ‘Arabia Mountain’. Despite having Mark Ronson as a producer, Black Lips manage to keep their bad boy attitude intact. Guaranteed to be a memorable night.

Watch the newest single ‘Family Tree’:

17th December

VK, Rue de l’Ecole 76 Schoolstraat, 1000 Brussels

www.vkconcerts.be

Beyond Style, Antwerp

Courtesy Gallery 51

With its panoramic view on ‘style’, the exhibition at Gallery 51 does justice to the elusiveness and subjective nature of the term that means much more than just fashion. Focusing on the charismatic presence of the photographed subject ‘Beyond Style’ finds a common denominator in images that at first glance can seem rather opposed to the viewer. Anonymous African photos are presented next to international icons such as Brigitte Bardot or Paul Newman. The displayed works range from influential fashion images by William Klein or Frank Horvat and portraits by Irving Penn or Jaques-Henri Lartigue to Diane Arbus’ gripping photographs of eccentrics.

Opening 8th December, 18h00

Gallery 51, Zirkstraat 20, 2000 Antwerp

www.gallery51.com

Manor Grunewald, Ghent

Courtesy of Fortlaan 17

Manor Grunewald, the young Belgian painter that made it on the cover of our white album, is currently exhibiting at the Fortlaan 17 Gallery in Ghent. With the exhibition ‘I always wanted to be David Copperfield, but I turned out to be a painter’, the self-taught painter attempts to find a link between the magical and the arts, constantly bending reality and generating illusions. Nevertheless Grunewald’s works are always more defined by his paths towards the canvas rather than artistic techniques, always starting out from the observation of people and cultures and how reality is commonly perceived.

Until 28th January 2012

Galerie Fortlaan 17, Fortlaan 17, 9000 Ghent

www.fortlaan17.com

Charles Burns, Leuven

Courtesy of M Museum Leuven

Leuven’s M Museum presents more than 200 works from the past thirty years by American graphic novelist and illustrator Charles Burns, best known for his comic books referencing pop art and culture whose atmosphere ranges from kitschy nostalgia and cheap sensation to haunting horror and dark worlds. His stories touch themes as adolescence and sexual awakening and are combined with recurring images of mutation, plague, alienation and violence. What many people don’t know: Burns also designed album covers for Iggy Pop, illustrated advertising campaigns for Altoids or Ok Soda and even did covers for Time, The New Yorker and The New York Times Magazine.

From 8th December to 11th March 2012

M Museum Leuven, Leopold Vanderkelenstraat 28, 3000 Leuven

www.mleuven.be

Last minute christmas sales to catch:

Brussels: Dress is more pop up sale

From 16th to 18th December

Centre Bruxellois de la Mode et du Design, Nouveau Marché aux Grains 10 Nieuwe Graanmarkt, 1000 Brussels

www.dressismore.com

Antwerp: I/OBJECT christmas pop up store

Until 18th December

Closet, Volkstraat 9, 2000 Antwerp

www.iobjectstore.com

Ghent: I/OBJECT christmas pop up store

Until 18th December

A&Gallery, Schepenhuisstraat 17, 9000 Gent

www.iobjectstore.com

Charif Benhelima, Brussels

Courtesy of the artist and Crown Gallery Brussels

Memory, oblivion, identity and truth through images are the main themes that can be found in Belgian-Moroccan photographer Charif Benhelima’s works, an exploration of perception, time, space and invisibility. For ten years now, Benhelima has been experimenting with the Polaroid 600, his preferred working companion, whose limitations enable him to play with the (in)visible, creating fading and washed out images which serve to challenge photography as such as well as the viewer’s perspective.

Until 21st January 2012

Crown Gallery, Nouveau Marché aux Grains 13 Nieuwe Graanmarkt, 1000 Brussels

www.crowngallery.be

Russian Turbulence, Brussels

Sergei Borisov, Dialogue, 1983, courtesy of Galerie Volker Diehl

Looking back on 20th century Russian art spanning over 100 years, this exhibition showcases the works of 42 different Russian artists, touching upon the constructivist, avant-garde, non-conformist and contemporary periods to expose the country’s changing political and artistic ideologies. Celebrating the variety and powerful energy of the country’s artistic legacy‚ Russian Turbulence concentrates on the art of counter culture and underground resistance against the backdrop of Russia’s chaotic history – violence, revolutions and re-births. Whilst the older works offer an interesting glimpse as to the artistic expression that took shape behind the iron curtain, the newer ones address the challenges of the post-Soviet world.

Opening 8th December, 18h00-21h00

Exhibition from 9th December to 3rd March 2012

Charles Riva Collection, Rue de la Concorde 21 Eendrachtstraat, 1000 Brussels

www.charlesrivacollection.com

Thierry de Cordier, Brussels

Courtesy of Xavier Hufkens Gallery

Last days to see: By announcing that he had absolutely nothing to do with the 20th century, Belgian contemporary visual artist Thierry de Cordier deliberately distanced himself from the world, choosing self-reflection and personal exploration in its place. With his paintings, sculptures and drawings dominated by dark colors and grey tints, he creates a gloomy mental landscape full of fragility and inner suffering, exclusion and isolation. The search for protection, a central theme throughout his oeuvre, is best symbolised by his sculptures of semi-human figures and primitive buildings giving shelter.

Until 10th December

Xavier Hufkens Gallery, Rue Saint-Georges 6-8 Sint-Jorisstraat, 1050 Brussels

www.xavierhufkens.com

Black Out Party, Brussels

Catclub’s wild little sister is back with another memorable night blending old school house with italo-disco and new wave. Jessica 6 (NYC), Baris K (Istanbul) and Lady Jane (Brussels) behind the decks to make sure you’re kept on your feet until dawn. This is the last Catclub-infused party of the year, so make sure to get your dancing shoes on for one final boogie.

10th December

Mr Wong, Rue de la Vierge Noire 10 Zwarte Lievevrouwstraat, 1000 Brussels

www.catclub.be

Karel Fonteyne, Antwerp

Courtesy of Ingrid Deuss Gallery

Belgian photographer Karel Fonteyne, whose career stretches over almost 40 years, aims to recreate the feeling he experiences when pressing the button of his camera whilst at the same time challenging the spectators’ imagination by photographing his subjects so close that the result is rather vague. The exhibition ranges from Fonteyne’s photographs of recordings of a cinema performance in Budapest to his pictures of mysterious naked women whose faces he hides behind books or whose eyebrows he covers with numbers. Another highlight: his ‘horses’ series that reveals the importance of the darkroom for Fonteyne, who uses double exposure and craftsman-like techniques.

Opening 9th December

Exhibition from 10th December to 7th January 2012

Ingrid Deuss Gallery, Provinciestraat 11, 2018 Antwerp

www.ingriddeuss.be

Angela Bulloch, Antwerp

Courtesy of Micheline Szwajcer Gallery

Angela Bulloch, Turner prize nominee in 1997 and part of the Young British Artists’, descends upon Antwerp to show her famous pixel boxes which serve as a kind of signature surface for many of her works. Symbolising the smallest unit of technical images and touching the border between the virtual and the real world, these usually invisible digital measurements are brought to life by Bulloch who transforms them into autonomous individual objects used for the creation of her distinctive sculptures.

From 8th December to 21st January 2012

Micheline Szwajcer Gallery, Verlaatstraat 14, 2000 Antwerp

www.gms.be

Daniel Sinsel, Antwerp

Courtesy of Sadie Coles HQ, London and Office Baroque, Antwerp

Daniel Sinsel, London-based German artist who has already counts shows in New York, Berlin, Zurich or Athens, explores classical themes of space, volume and illusion with his paintings and sculptures whilst always focusing on the qualities and characteristics of the used materials. Including references to art history as well as his personal interpretation of it, Sinsel stays dedicated to traditional oil painting of multiple layers and ancient craft techniques as ceramics and metalworking. As a result his works avoid modernist inclinations and are full of a very human sensuality.

Until 14th January

Office Baroque Gallery, Lange Kievitstraat 48, 2018 Antwerp

www.officebaroque.com

Adam Leech, Ghent

Adam Leech "If your eyes are good...", 2011, courtesy Hoet Bekaert Gallery

Born in the US and trained at the Chicago Art Institute as well as at the Royal Academy in Amsterdam, painter and video artist Adam Leech, who now lives and works in Brussels, combines and creates interactions between these two artforms. For the exhibition ‘If your eyes are good…’ in Ghent’s Hoet Bekaert Gallery, Leech created a rather unique concept: In order to force the viewer to express an opinion on the displayed paintings and make a public judgement, each visitor will be given plates with  fake dog poo and rose-leafs that have to be placed underneath the paintings, leaving no room for greyness, allowing only a ‘very good’ or ‘very bad’ mention.

Until 15th January 2012

Hoet Bekaert Gallery, Rodelijvekensstraat 28, 9000 Ghent

www.iets.be

Photographer Pauline Miko

(This feature was first published in the white album)

Chauncey needs no introduction to these pages, their cashmere and knitwear collections having won our hearts and minds over a long time ago. And the hits just keep on coming from the Brussels-based French couple, this time in the shape of its long-sleeved cables knitted jumper full of details. There’s the chunky twisted knitted patterns that lace the entire jumper, the body-perfect straight fit as well as the small V neck detail at the centre of the ribbed collar (on the men’s version only). Made in Mongolia, home to the finest cashmere in the world, don’t be surprised if this revisited classic becomes a regular on your winter clothes rack.

Chauncey white crew neck (329 €)

Available from chaunceystore.com

(this article was first published in the white album)

Normann Copenhagen Pop up Store, Brussels

With the end-of-year, Christmas shopping spree about to begin, Brussels-based design hotstop La Fabrika dedicates an entire space to the playful, innovative and often surprising world of Danish design imprint Normann Copenhagen. Open until the end of the month, the pop up shop features the Scandinavian designers’s entire collection, unique for its ability to challenge conventional design rules and use traditional materials whilst retaining a certain unpretentiousness.

From 1st to 31st December

La Fabrika, Rue A. Dansaertstraat 182, 1000 Brussels

www.lafabrika.be

Robert Devriendt, Brussels

Robert Devriendt’s miniature oil paintings tell intimate stories by showing fragments of people, animals, landscapes or spaces which greatly resemble film stills. With his special attention to detail and precise, realistic painting technique harking back to the Flemish Primitives, he creates an intriguing world full of sensuality. A fetishist, a young girl, a blood stained dog, a taxidermist – these and other figures make regular appearances in his at times obscure and gloomy series of work, set in a natural decor with Devriendt slipping into the role of a hermit living an insular life in the woods. Fittingly, the exhibition The woods of love and horror, which bears resemblance to an unfinished film, is inspired by murder mysteries and crime thrillers.

Until 23rd December

Galerie Baronian Francey, Rue Isidore Verheydenstraat 2, 1050 Brussels 

www.baronianfrancey.com

Depth of Field, Antwerp

Playing around and mastering the depth of field is probably rule number one of the dummy’s guide to photography. Indeed, the distance between the nearest and farthest subject or object in your composition – that magical effect that is achieved through adjustments to your optical lens – often is the best way for a photographer to balance the relevant with the superfluous, then and there deciding what, to him, should be in focus, and what deserves to be relegated to the background. Drawing upon the creme of the crop of current Belgian photographic talent (everyone from Bert Danckaert, Lara Gasparotto, Francois Goffin, Jimmy Kets, Charlotte Lybeer and Arno Roncada), the exhibition showcases the myriad of possibilities when experimenting with depth of field emphasising the dialectical connection between the sharp and the blurry whilst reviving the notion of the photographer as a painter-photographer.

Until 24th December

Stieglitz 19, Klapdorp 2, 2000 Antwerp

www.stieglitz19.be

Serge Strosberg, Antwerp

Antwerp-born, New York-based artist Serge Strosberg’s works draws upon the city’s energy and very much evolves around the fashion world – a world he is no stranger to following previous collaborations with art directors for Elle and Vogue. Combining German expressionism with American realism, the self-proclaimed Expressionist of fashion captures models by revealing the less glamourous side of the beauty business. His vivid depictions – portraits that owe as much to photography as they do to painting – touch upon themes of materialism, narcissism, voyeurism and uniformity, making Strosberg’s unique vision particularly relevant in today’s fashion-frenzied society.

From 2nd to 23rd December

Galerie Ludwig Trossaert, Museumstraat 29, Antwerp

www.strosbergserge.com

Pop/Zuid Pop up Store, Antwerp

From books, accessories and cosmetics to clothes and shoes, this temporary designer outlet offers everything the avid shopper can wish for. An eclectic selection of all the right brands offers a varied choice guaranteed to lay any fashion fiend’s end of year frustrations to rest.  With collections by Jil Sander’s and more playful pieces from Paul & Joe sister or Chloe’s See line, the pop up outlet store remains open until the end of January and remains your best shot yet at making an impression on a shoestring.

Until 31st January

Pop/Zuid, Scheldestraat 72, 2000 Antwerp

Thursday to Saturday and Monday, 11h00 – 18h00

Andy Butler and Jeremy Glenn, Ghent

Having done more than anyone in bringing some disco cool back to the dance floor with his Hercules & Love Affair crew (check out their newest album ‘Blue Songs’ released on Moshi Moshi earlier this year), New York DJ Andy Butler has since become the unofficial spokesman for a generation of nostalgic club music lovers. Playing a DJ set and supported by Toronto-based Jeremy Glenn (We Play House), expect a night of suggestive danse moves and sexy-hot dance grooves.

2nd December

Vooruit, Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 23, 9000 Ghent

www.vooruit.be

Lineart Art Fair, Ghent

Often living in Art Brussels’ shadow, Lineart has nonetheless carved out a niche for itself as the art fair for the studious. Concentrating on contemporary art, modern and ethnic paintings can be found next to design items and sculptures. Celebrating its 30th birthday, this year’s edition comes with a special focus on Japan, as well as a newly established photography section, Photo Art Zone. Also not to miss: Belgium Calling, a section showcasing Belgian artists as well as The Border which gives young and upcoming artists the chance to shine.

From 2nd to 6th December

Flanders Expo, Adolphe Pégoudlaan, 9051 Ghent

www.lineart.be

Jasper Johns, Oudenbourg

Located in the Belgian countryside, far removed from the hustle and bustle of the city-slicking art scene, the De 11 Lijnen is a special place that puts on special exhibitions, a fact confirmed with its latest exhibition which shows works from world-famous contemporary artist Jasper Johns. World-renowned for his famous painting of the US American flag, Johns paved the way for pop artists such as Andy Warhol through his technique of capturing everyday, ordinary objects onto the canvas. One aspect of Johns’ career that often went unnoticed was his use of hand prints as artistic medium, first accidentally in studies for a sculpture, later as a focal point in many important pieces of his oeuvre. This exhibition now presents Johns’ works from a different angle, focusing on these hand prints that sometimes remind the viewer of prehistoric cave paintings and undoubtedly add to the mystery around his pieces.

Until 11th February 2012

Foundation De 1 Lijnen, Oudenbourg

www.de11lijnen.com

Photographers Gregoire Pleynet and Pauline Miko.

Exhibitions

Last days to catch: Harry Gruyaert

Photography Harry Gruyaert/Magnum Photos

In what essentially is a mini-retrospective, Brussels photography outpost Box Gallery showcases about 50 prints from Belgian photographer Harry Gruyaert, a member of the legendary photo agency Magnum since 1981. Combining standard-setting classics with smaller and unexpected surprises, all photographs were handpicked by the artist himself, with the exhibition including pieces from his acclaimed series of distorted TV screens. With a special focus on the subtleties of lights and the power of colour, Gruyaert’s work has for the last 30 years stayed clear of any cliches, constructing a unique body of work that sits somewhere in between Stephen Shore‘s realism and Eggleston‘s experimentations.

Until 26th November

Box Galerie, Rue du Mail 88 Maliestraat, 1050 Brussels

www.boxgalerie.be

Boris Tellegen

Photography courtesy of A.L.I.C.E Gallery

A visual artist since 1983, Dutch-born Boris Tellegen (also known as Delta by his street-savy peers) first began as a graffiti artist in and around Amsterdam, going on to build up quite the name for himself across European shores through his use of 3D techniques. Having now graduated to the world of studios and galleries, his current work still exudes the energy and spark of his graffiti years (the geometrical and three-dimensional nature of most of his works remains) although it has gained in maturity as far as the execution, and, most importantly, the narrative are concerned. His works tell a story now, come to life and battle for attention: it’s not always easy to look at Tellegen’s work, although that only adds to its sheer power and immediacy.

From 24th November to 23rd December

Alice Gallery, Rue du pays de Liège 4 Land van Luikstraat, 1000 Brussels

www.alicebxl.be

Valerie Snobeck

Photography Isabelle Arthuis

A study in the extent to which transparency can be stretched to its limits, New York-based artist Valerie Snobeck’s ‘Block Optic with Rope’ show at Galerie Catherine Bastide tests the meaning of seeing an object as well as seeing through it. Playing on perspectives, contrasts and illusions, Snobeck pits front against back and positive against negative in an ongoing battle of solid vs static, the end result often leaving the viewer asking for more. Indeed, the artist blends and mends opposing forces into works of art made all the more confusing by her ‘print-laminate-peel-transfer’ technique that transposes ghost-like outlines to bewildering effect.

From 25th November to 21st January

Galerie Catherine Bastide, Rue Vandenbrandenstraat 1, 1000 Brussels

www.catherinebastide.com

Concerts & Parties

Our white album release party

Our last edition of the year, the white album, comes out on Friday 25th November. It features artists talking about their fear of the blank canvas, professions that still wear white aprons at work and the oldest tennis club in Belgium (members are required to wear white). It also features a snow globe collector, a tribute to white socks and an interview with White Russia (the band whose song, Charmless State, was used for the teaser). Come on down, get your copy, have a Volga (Brussels’ latest beer) and a little boogie (Nosedrip‘s on decks). It’ll be fun.

Join the Facebook event page here.

25th November, from 19h00.

Galerie Catherine Bastide, Rue Vandenbrandenstraat 1, 1000 Brussels

www.thewordmagazine.be

Autumn Falls Festival

Reading like a rollcall of indie rock’s current cream of the crop (everyone from Suuns and Metronomy to Matthew Herbert and Fool’s Gold), Autumn Falls‘ second edition comes back with an ever bigger line up, overtaking the city’s live venues for a five day rampage. Our favorite this weekend are Suuns, probably the darkest (and loudest) thing to come out of Canada lately. The four-piece known for its intense live shows offers a hypnotic, pitch-black sound characterised by pulsating beats, howling sirens, shouting guitars and lead singer Ben Shemie‘s whispering vocals. Gloomy but nonetheless dancefloor-worthy, this will delight the fans of Can and Talking Heads alike. We have five tickets to give-away for the afterparty on Saturday 26th at Mr Wong with DJs Deer Pony and MOT. The first five readers to send an email to wewrite@thewordmagazine.be with Autmn Falls After party in the subject line will each be added to the guest list.

From 21st to 27th November

24th November

Suuns @ VK, Rue de l’Ecole 76 Schoolstraat, 1080 Brussels

26th November

Roll Dice and Autumn Falls Afterparty @ Mr Wong, Rue de la Vierge Noire 10 Zwarte Lievevrouwstraat, 1000 Brussels

www.autumnfalls.be

Bozar Night

Following its Bozar Electronic Weekend end of October, electronic music comes back to haunt the Bozar‘s halls for a night at the museum guaranteed to be high trebbles and bass. Top of the bill are live performances from London-based jazz rap band The Herbaliser and Legowelt.

25th November

Bozar Centre of Fine Arts, Rue Ravensteinstraat 23,  1000 Brussels

www.bozar.be

Catclub

You could say a page is about to be turned on Saturday with what is the Catclub’s last edition in its traditional hunting ground of iMal. Putting on one heck of a show to ensure it goes out at the top of its game, the night’s line-up is headed by legendary German tastemaker DJ Ata, founder of the Playhouse, Klang and Ongaku labels, owner of the famous Robert Johnson club in Frankfurt and on the DJ trail since the 80s. Add to that Brussels-based duo The Criime as dance-floor warm ups and New York-based artist Tara Sinn for visual works and smiles, smiles and more smiles are guaranteed all around.

26th November

iMAL, Quai des Charbonnages 30 Koolmijnenkaai, 1080 Brussels

www.catclub.be

Shopping

Maison Martin Margiela@Bozar shop

Mixing high and low has always been one of Maison Martin Margiela’s signature contributions to the fashion world. Their Ligne 13 – dedicated to objects and publications – has a poetic and timeless feel to it, one which escapes seasonal constraints to focus instead on surrealistic items which are given the MMM cachet. It references the past, yes, but without taking itself too seriously. Like its ostrich feather pen. It’s slightly on the outlandish side and elicits the odd incredulous look or two at first. Then it suddenly reminds you you haven’t received a handwritten letter in yonks, and then and there an ostrich-feathered pen might just be the thing you need to get you to put pen to paper again. Under the theme “White Christmas” the Bozar Shop now has a selection of mainly white MMM objects in offer – from the feather pen to snowballs, a cotton calendar or Matryoshka dolls.

Monday to Sunday, 10h00 until 19h00

Bozar Shop, rue Ravensteinstraat 15, 1000 Brussels

www.bozarshop.be

Art & culture

John Isaacs: The closest I ever came to you

Photography courtesy of Aeroplastics

The UK-born artist is somewhat of a modern-day moralist: His works, mainly installations, expose the discrepancy of the way the world is and the way we would like it to be. Playing with extremities and taboos John Isaacs uses his pieces as guilty messengers that show the decline of today’s Western society and deal with our role as individuals within society. Despite his gloomy vision of the world, his work carries a spark of hope trying to create a new consensus by challenging the spectators to rethink their perspectives. Heavy stuff.

From 18th November to 21st January 2012

AEROPLASTICS contemporary, Rue Blanchestraat 32 , 1060 Brussels

www.aeroplastics.net

Donald Judd

Photography courtesy of Galerie Greta Meert

From his earlier works to his later creations, the exhibition at Greta Meert gallery gives a comprehensive overview of one of the most renowned exponents of Minimal Art – a label that the American artist himself always fiercely rejected. With his radical and innovative approach to furniture design focusing on functionality combined with a pure and simple but elegant look, Donald Judd’s creations were at the time of making of ground-breaking character. Today his pieces have lost nothing of their appeal – built with sober but solid materials, technical precision and an elegant simplicity, Judd’s furniture is timeless and here to stay.

From 19th November to 10th March 2012

Galerie Greta Meert, Rue Du Canal 13 Vaartstraat, 1000 Brussels

www.galeriegretameert.com

Shoot for Good

Photography Sébastien Calvez

With a dual purpose to its existence (to give emerging artists some shine as well as raise funds to support the accessibility of art for low income communities), Shoot for Good‘s Contrasts exhibition displays limited-edition works by photographers from across the world. Sitting alongside the works of 13 amateur photographers are the donated prints of over 17 seasoned professionals who’ve handed their image rights over to the organisation. All profits from the event are reinvested into projects that promote social reintegration through the arts, providing you with the perfect opportunity to indulge in your photographic fetish whilst also doing a little bit of good by, hopefully, reaching out for your wallet.

From 17th to 20th November

Tour & Taxis, Avenue du Port 86c Havenlaan, 1000 Brussels

www.shootforgood.be

Shopping

Indoor DesignMarkt

With its vast selection including affordable interior pieces as well as items exclusively aimed at collectors, this enormous vintage market offers everything a vintage fan could wish for. What’s more, the Ghent DesignMarkt is more than just a sale, extending into the realms of fair-territory. Indeed, visitors will be able to get their picture taken together with their purchased wares by top photographer Andy De Decker, consult young interior designers for free or watch four Belgian architects build a vintage living room right before their eyes.

From 19th to 20th November

ICC Ghent, Citadel Parc 1, 9000 Ghent

www.designmarkt.be

Modo Sales

Organised by Modo Brussels, this gigantic two-day stocksale offers an excellent chance to get your hands on Belgian designer pieces at a reasonable price. More than thirty creators open up their wardrobes for the weekend, with everything from Carine Gilson’s exquisite lingerie to the elegant clothing of award-winning label Sandrina Fasoli vying for your attention. The yearly rendez-vous of the local fashion scene and the best way to add a little Belgian flavour to your clothes rack.

From 18th to 19th November

Center of Fashion & Design, Nouveau Marché-aux-grains 10 Nieuwe Graanmarkt, 1000 Brussels

www.modobrussels.be

Music

Indie: Foster The People

Having conquered the radio waves this summer with its catchy hit ‘Pumped Up Kicks’, the dance-infused indie pop three-piece from Los Angeles now comes to Brussels on the back of their acclaimed debut album ‘Torches’ (think MGMT’s ‘Oracular Spectacular’). The Californians are another perfect example for internet-initiated music stardom: The viral success of ‘Pumped Up Kicks’ got them an online ad campaign, a record label and, finally, appearances at big festivals as Coachella and SXSW where they cemented their reputation for energetic live performances.

19th November

Botanique, Rue Royale 236 Koningsstraat, 1210 Brussels

www.botanique.be

House/disco: Maceo Plex

After having travelled the world and played in some of the best clubs around the globe Maceo Plex, better known under his former artist name Maetrik, now comes to Brussels to present his new tracks (the album ‘Life Index’ was released this year on Crosstown) at the Libertine Supersport night hosted in K-nal. With his versatile mixture of dark and deep house and Nu Disco, Maceo Plex‘s smooth and sexy sound is guaranteed to keep you on your toes ’til the early hours of the morning.

19th November

K-nal, Avenue du Port 1 Havelaan, 1000 Brussels

www.libertinesupersport.be

Hip hop: IconAclass

IconAclass is the most recent solo project from MC and producer Will Brooks, best known for his alternative hip hop releases as MC Dälek. With his new album ‘For the ones’, he digs deep in his soul and offers a stripped down, boom bap old school hip hop album with the lyrics at the forefront and touching on topics from religion to race relations and criticism of capitalism. A must for backpacking hip hop heads with a penchant for dark productions.

20th November

Trix, Noordersingel 28-30, 2140 Antwerp

www.trixonline.be

Funk/Soul: Tropical #17

Every third Saturday of the month Madame Moustache invites you to its so-called Tropical parties dedicated to latin, afro and caribbean rhythms from the 60s to today. This weekend resident DJ Funky Bompa is joined by DJ Quilombo, active in the Brussels Up collective and something of a tropical bass supremo.

19th November

Madame Moustache, Quai au Bois à Brûler 5-7 Brandhoutkaai, 1000 Brussels

www.madamemoustache.be

It features artists talking about their fear of the blank canvas, professions that still wear white aprons at work and the oldest tennis club in Belgium (members are required to wear white). It also features a snowball collector, a tribute to white socks and an interview with White Russia (the band’s whose song, Charmless State, was used for the teaser).

Come on down, get your copy, have a Volga (Brussels’ latest beer) and a little boogie (Nosedrip‘s on decks).

Address for the night: Rue Vandenbrandenstraat 2 - 1000 Brussels (Next door to Galerie Catherine Bastide and behind Café Modèle). Find it on Google maps

JOIN THE EVENT ON FACEBOOK

Instameet

When lens manufacturer Schneider begins manufacturing lenses for iPhones and the widely popular photo app Instagram hits the ten million users mark, you know the game has forever been changed. No surprise then that A&Gallery and Instameet, an initiative bringing together the global phoneography community, felt it timely to put on what is, essentially, Belgium first major phoneography exhibition, showcasing 100 selected photographs snapped up with mobile phones. Get used to these, they’re the future.

From 10th to 12th November

A&Gallery, Schepenhuisstraat 17 – 9000 Ghent

www.instameet.be

Olivier Cornil: La quadrature du vide

Photography Olivier Cornil

To celebrate the 60 year anniversary of Brussels’ North-South connection – the city’s so-called Jonction – the neighbourhood’s artistic institutions Recyclart and Congrès join forces to present artists exploring the present and the future of this urban renewal scheme. Top of our list: Photographer Olivier Cornil who’s just completed his first month of residency at Recyclart, Peter Downsbrough showcasing a site-specific installation of his at Congres as well as a historical exhibition tracing the North-South’s axis evolution. The perfect opportunity to spruce up your historical knowledge of Brussels in a very visual manner.

Recyclart, Rue des Ursulines 25 Ursulinenstraat – 1000 Brussels

www.jonction.be

Michel Mazzoni: Straight in the light

Abandoned spaces, lost places and the powerful and immaterial beauty of light – these are the themes French-born photographer Michel Mazzoni explores in his works for the exhibition “Straight in the light” studying the mystical vastness of North American landscapes. Think Stephen Shore and Alec Soth.

From 11th November to 11th December

Centre Culturel Jaques Franck, Chaussee de Waterloo 94 Waterloosesteenweg – 1060 Brussels

www.lejacquesfranck.be

Pink screens

Five different artists from New York to Paris explore gender and sexual diversity in different ways. Machado De Souza Jaqueline for instance focuses on motel rooms as a microcosmos of sexuality, whilst visual artist Carter presents a film installation in which Hollywood star James Franco (127 Hours, Howl) acts out excerpts from different films in an attempt to question identities. The show is part of the Pink Screens film festival’s 10th edition hosted by Cinema Arenberg, Cinema Nova and Genres d’à Coté.

From 10th to 19th November

Cinema Nova, Rue d’Arenberg 3 Arenbergstraat – 1000 Brussels

www.pinkscreens.org

The fashion show to catch: Customisez-moi

In its fifth edition this year, talent contest Customisez-moi created by vintage guru Bernard Gavilan and open to all fashion obsessives – from autodidacts through to fashion students – hosts its final catwalk show this Friday, putting forward the customised creations of the selected finalists. The winner will be given some space to shine through Modo Brussels as well as the RA store in Antwerp.

11th November, 20h00

Studio Indigo, Avenue Van Volxem 388 Van Volxemlaan – 1190 Brussels

www.customisezmoi.com

Paul Smith

Photography courtesy of Paul Smith

Last days to see: This Friday is the final opportunity to see Paul Smith’s stamped object collection – an exhibition of sometimes funny, sometimes weird pieces that designer Paul Smith has been receiving frequently by mail from an unknown fan. Usually situated in Smith’s home, the selection of quirky objects is now shown in Europe for the first time since its debut in Hong Kong.

11th November

Paul Smith, Kelderstraat 2 & 3  – 2000 Antwerp

www.paulsmith.co.uk

The night out: DIG.IT.ALL

German DJ and multi-instrumentalist Christian Prommer takes to the decks at Wood this Friday for a night of live electronic music. Expect a more eclectic vibe, one which places experimentation right at the centre of its game.

11th November

Wood, Chemin de la Meute 1 Jachtkoppelweg – 1000 Brussels

www.thewood.be

The festival to go to: I love Techno

Paul Kalkbrenner, Boys Noize, Birdy Nam Nam, Cassius…once again the Belgian indoor festival I love Techno brings the crème de la crème of electronic music to town. Top of our wish list: Totally Extinct Enormous Dinosaur, Drop the Lime and playboy DJ Brodinski.

Flanders Expo, Maaltekouter 1, 9051 Ghent

www.ilovetechno.be

The concert to catch: Atmosphere

Having probably done more than Prince himself to put Minneapolis on the map, indie rap imprint Atmosphere has over the years built up a considerable fan base with its blend of hardcore emo-rap. Led by eloquent wordsmith Slug, the band have just released their latest album, The Family Sign for which they are currently touring Europe. With other label mates getting on the bus with them (Brother Ali, Dilated Peoples‘ Evidence and Ohio producer Blueprint), this is one sure to bring the backpackers out in force.

11th November

L’Ancienne Belgique, Boulevard Anspachlaan 110, 1000 Brussels

www.abconcerts.be

The shop to drop by: La Fabrika

La Fabrika, a design store offering 230 m² of carefully-curated contemporary furniture, lighting and accessories, opened its doors a year ago and now celebrates its first birthday with a special treat for its customers: a 10% reduction on the whole collection, including pieces by established designers as well as rising talents.

12th November, 11h00 – 18h30

La Fabrika, Rue A. Dansaertstraat 182 – 1000 Brussels

www.lafabrika.be

Photography Pauline Miko

Ever since Coco Chanel’s game-changing little black dress hit fashion boutiques’ shop floors, the staple has become a wardrobe must for self-respecting women – the kind of piece to defy any cyclical turns in the fashion sphere. With its purist aesthetic and understated luxury, this black heavy cotton satin dress from Belgian designer Sofie D’Hoore, a graduate of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, perfectly captures the little black dress’ philosophy, effortlessly combining elegance and minimalism to delighting effect. With clean lines, a modern look and an oversized collar adding a playful twist to the frock, this black dress is our clear favourite from Sofie’s current winter collection focusing on dresses inspired by the 60s . As Sofie D’Hoore herself puts it: “I want to dress women, instead of dressing them up.”

Sofie D’Hoore 100% cotton dress (325 €)

Available at Walter, Henri van Heurckstraat 3, 2000 Antwerp

www.sofiedhoore.be

The exhibition to go to: Walter van Beirendonck

Photography courtesy of Walter Van Beirendonck

Antwerp’s Six most exuberant and larger than life figure has relentlessly been challenging the fashion world for the past three decades. Known for his colourful designs, his maverick fashion shows in Paris in the 90s, and the critical messages on society he proclaims with his designs, Walter van Beirendonck will see the highlights of his career and creations celebrated in this comprehensive retrospective at Antwerp’s fashion museum. In addition to silhouettes from his collections, the exhibition will provide an overview of the world he lives in, taking a deeper look into the narrative character of his oeuvre, his fascination for etnography, rituals, science fiction and technology.

Until 19th February

MoMu, Nationalestraat 28 – 2000 Antwerp

momu.be

The concerts to catch: Gablé and Is Tropical

Gablé

Pigeonholing this joyful and whacky French quartet is simply impossible. Gablé criss-crosses genres and styles, overthrowing any expectations of what a normal “band” could possibly be, bringing to the game an unexpected freshness. Their bubbly and unpredictable live shows have cemented their reputation as a band that really exists for the  stage, incorporating hoovers amongst other many other off-beat instruments.

5th November

Beursschouwburg, Rue Auguste Ortsstraat 20-28 – 1000 Brussels

www.beursschouwburg.be

Is Tropical

Having just released their debut album ‘Native to’ on Kitsuné earlier this year, the mysterious London three-piece (the band members hide their faces behind scarfs and masks at all times) now brings their beat-driven, pop-influenced lo-fi dance sound to Brussels.

4th November

Botanique, Rue Royale 236 Koningsstraat – 1210 Brussels

www.botanique.be

The night out: Plastic

Photography courtesy of Plastic

Contemporary plastic and visual arts, photography exhibition, live shows and DJ sets – Plastic is back this year in its traditional location, Brussels’ White Hotel. Spread out across 10 floors of exhibition and party space, each room is given to a different artist or musician, who essentially owns the premises for the night. With a special focus this year on music, Plastic’s 8th edition promises everything from hip hop, jazz, electronica and disco-punk. Top of the bill: Belgian up and coming electro-rock band Great Mountain Fire. See here for the full programme.

4th November

White Hotel Avenue Louise 212 Louizalaan – 1050 Brussels

www.plasticfestival.com

The movie to catch: Central Do Brasil

‘Central Do Brasil’ is a movie about the friendship between a little boy and a middle-aged woman that won the Golden Bear at the Berlinale in 1998 and earned its award-winning brazilian director Walter Salles international acclaim. The director will be at hand on the night itself, revealing footage from his highly anticipated adaptation of Jack Kerouac’s cult novel ‘On the Road’, an enthralling portray of the Beat Generation.

6th November, 19h30

Flagey, Place Sainte Croix Heilig Kruisplein – 1050 Ixelles

www.flagey.be

Bringing the weekend to a close: Jazz at Potemkine

Photography courtesy of Potemkine

Almost every Sunday the Potemkine Bar marked by its wooden interior and a huge whale skeleton installation on the ceiling invites you to a cozy live jazz evening  – this time with the Fred Becker Trio performing. The perfect comfy and relaxed hungover Sunday hangout spot to let the weekend come to a close with some great jazz tunes and a cup of tea. And for the hard-boiled that simply never know when to stop, there’s Potemkine’s special Volga beer (offered with a shot of vodka).

6th November, 19h00

Potemkine, Avenue de la porte de Hal 2 Hallepoortlaan – 1060 Brussels

1. Copy and paste this link onto your wall http://itunes.apple.com/be/app/the-word-neighbourhood-life/id419048887?mt=8

2. Add a message to the post encouraging your friends to do the same. Something along the lines of “Win a Word goodie bag by posting this link on your wall.” (Extra points will be scored for originality here).

3. Take a screenshot of the post, and email it to wewrite@thewordmagazine.be

We have 15 goodie bags to dish out, so the 15 first readers to email us their screenshots will get theirs. And, as mentioned, those readers that make a particular effort in terms of originality of tone and efficiency of message will get extra love. Promised.

Photography Pauline Miko

Bleu de Chanel 100ml bottle (€71).

Available nationwide from Ici Paris XL.

chanel.com

The festival to catch: Sonic City

Courtesy of Mute Records

By inviting Melvins, Factory Floor, HTRK, Mark Ernestus, Legendary Pink Dots, Tannhäuser Sterben & das Tod, Standish/Carlyon, and Sightings, LA-based Liars – who were asked to curate this two-day festival in Courtrai/Kortrijk – live up to the sharp, eclectic and somewhat offbeat taste one would rightfully expect of them.

From 29th to 30th October

Sonic City @ De Kreun, Conservatoriumplein – 8500 Courtrai/Kortrijk

www.dekreun.be

The concert to go to: The Ex

Veterans of the Dutch punk scene, The Ex emerged at the height of the sub culture’s explosion in 1979 and survived its downfall. Going through several line-up changes during its three-decade career, the band’s sound evolved from anarcho-punk to new-wave, sometimes even incorporating elements of free jazz, afrobeat, blues and folk whilst never losing its relevance, edge or mythical energy on stage.

29th October

VK,  Rue de l’Ecole 76 Schoolstraat – 1080 Brussels

www.vkconcerts.be

The nights out: Bozar Electronic Weekend

Courtesy of Monkeytown Records

With Berlin’s Modeselektor headlining the bill, this weekend’s Electronic Weekend once again promises to bring sonic mayhem down on Bozar‘s labyrinth of underground rooms and corridors. Reinforcing an already solid international line-up (Siriusmo, Girl Unit and Rustie amongst others) with a finely-tuned selection of homegrown talent (Surfkill’s Ssaliva and Spank Me More Records’ Concert Debout), the two-nighter promises to deliver enough ear candy to keep you on your toes until the early hours of the morning.

From 28th October to 29th October

Bozar Centre for Fine Arts, Rue Ravensteinstraat 23 – 1000 Brussels

www.bozar.be

The walk to take: Parcours Modo

Courtesy of Modo

One of the quickest and safest way to get a good idea of what’s brewing in Brussels’ creative hotpot at the moment is to let yourself be guided through this weekend’s Parcours Modo, a fashion-focused, city-wide trail in which emerging and established fashion designers as well as the majority of downtown Brussels’ retail glitterati join forces to create a walk full of unexpected surprises. Top of our list this year is the exhibition ’Fashion Drawers’ at Papers. Another must-do on our list: MAPP, which is hosting the so-called Smile Book project. If you’re lucky, you might even get to be photographed in one of designer Marc-Philippe Coudeyre‘s new winter jackets with a vintage polaroid camera.

Starting point and information: The Rits Café, Rue A. Dansaertstraat 70 – 1000 Brussels

www.modobrussels.be

The exhibitions to go to: Dreamsuits and Precarious Interchange

Dreamsuits

Courtesy of MoMu

What do Elvis Presley, John Lennon and Johnny Cash have in common? All three music icons wore outfits by Ukrainian-born designer legend Nudie Cohn, a tailor who by revolutionising Country & Western fashion rose from designing g-strings for New York strippers to international stardom. In what is the first comprehensive exhibition of his creations in Europe, the show allows you to discover a vast selection of Cohn’s extravagant outfits and accessories, including the personal collection of Belgian entertainer Bobbejaan Schoepen.

From 28th October to 12th February 2012

ModeMuseum Province of Antwerp,  Nationalestraat 28 – 2000 Antwerp

www.momu.be

Precarious Interchange

Courtesy of Waxy Pith

Waxy Pith, a new platform for contemporary art, displays the works of artists from France, Norway, the US and Germany touching different topics and artforms ranging from photography to video installations or sculptures whilst all having one thing in common: A certain sense of precariousness.

From 28th October to 13th November

Waxy Pith, Rue de l’Arbre 4 Boomstraat – 1000 Brussels

www.waxypith.com

If you happen to see some when you’re out and about, please do take a picture and email them to wewrite@thewordmagazine.be so that we can increase our archive.

And, if you want your pack of 25 ‘We Own Belgium’ stickers (6 euros a pop), email us at wewrite@thewordmagazine and we’ll tell you what to do.

Photographer Antoine Ghisoland

The exhibition to go to: Bob Verschueren’s Still life

Courtesy of Bob Verschueren

Exclusively inspired by nature, Bob Verschueren has spent the past three decades developing a singular visual language. Rising on the international art scene with his vegetal installations, destined to vanish with every exhibition’s closing, the Belgian artist has also developed his own brand of “miniatures”: photographs of small sculptures assembled with twigs and found leaves. Displaying his new and previous creations, as well as featuring his recent audio works of plant sounds, the Botanique‘s museum takes on the aura of an immersive forest, proof that one couldn’t dream of a better venue than the capital’s botanic gardens to offer an extended vision of this nature-lover’s work.

Until 6th November

Botanique, Rue Royale 236 Koningsstraat – 1210 Brussels

www.botanique.be

The concerts to catch: Apparat Band and Why?

Apparat Band

Sascha Ring, the creative mind behind the hugely successful electronic one-man-venture Apparat, is transforming his computer project into a real band performing on stage with various instruments as drums, percussions, cello or piano – a development that makes a great live experience and is also quite apparent on his new album ‘The Devil’s Walk’, released this September. This weekend the Berlin electro legend will play in Brussels, together with his new bandmates – absolutely not to miss!

Watch the video Black Water:

23rd October

Ancienne Belgique,  Avenue Anspach 10 Anspachlaan – 1000 Brussels

www.abconcerts.be

Why?

Oscillating somewhere between hip hop, psychedelic electronica, indie rock and even folk the Californian three-piece around Yoni Wolf is quite difficult to categorize, creating an unlikely crossing of various genres. Expect some serious fun with this quirky, eclectic collective. Refreshingly different!

Watch the video “A Sky For Shoeing Horses Under”

21st October

Botanique, Rue Royale 236 Koningsstraat – 1210 Brussels

www.botanique.be

The market to drop by: Micromarché

At the Brussels Micromarché, a project giving young talents the opportunity to show and sell their creations to a wider public, you will find everything from fashion to art: Browse through a varied selection of clothes, accessories, paintings, photographs or decorative objects. The indoor market is the perfect place to take a weekend shopping stroll, discover the various little boutiques and have a break with coffee and cake in the integrated café.

22nd and 23rd October, 11h00 – 19h00

www.micromarche.be

The night out: Bepotel hidden tracks release party

Newly created Belgian label Bepotel will present its fresh sounds for the first time with a hidden tracks release party in the Hectoliter Gallery. DJs Simon Halsberghe and Dynooo will take over the decks and make you dance the night away.

Watch the teaser:

22nd October

Hectoliter Gallery, Rue Philippe de Champagnestraat 5 – 1000 Brussels

www.bepotel.be

Kiehl’s Creme de Corps (from 13 euros)

Available at Kiehl’s

Lombardenvest 80

2000 Antwerp

The exhibition to go to: Antoine Bouillot

Courtesy of A.L.I.C.E. Gallery

After having infiltrated the Parisian fashion world aged barely 16 – where he worked on catwalk scenography, became artistic director and created identities for luxury brands such as Lanvin, Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, Sampar or Gaspard Yurkievich – Antoine Bouillot decided to have a go at movie directing, before settling for visual arts. Visibly inspired – or affected – by his previous experience, the French artist’s vision of art became one of a tautological provocation with the world of luxury as an alibi, resulting in a body of work that accuses as much as it celebrates these two worlds.

Until 29th October

A.L.I.C.E. Gallery, Rue du pays de Liège 4 – 1000 Brussels

www.alicebxl.com

The concert to catch: Teeth

Being touted as Karl Lagerfeld‘s favourite new band certainly raises the stakes. Fortunately, Teeth‘s electro-noise-pop lives up to the hype. Playful, fresh, stylish minimalistic yet very punchy, cynics might describe the Dalston trio as yet another bunch of hipsters, but who cares – they put on a good show and that’s all that counts, right?

14th October

Botanique, Rue Royale 236 Koningsstraat – 1210 Brussels

www.botanique.be

Watch the video of the single Care Bear:

The auction to go to: Second Hand Second Life

Acclaimed Belgian designers will once more present one of a kind creations made from second hand goods for the 9th edition of the now famous Petits Riens / Spullenhulp fashion show, which is auctioned at the end of the show to raise funds for the non-profit organisation.

Tour & Taxis, Avenue du Port 86C A Havenlaan – 1000 Brussels

www.petitsriens.be

The night out: Audiorama

With Dan D, a veteran of the Berlin club scene Panorama Bar, Maria am Ostbahnhof or Club der Visionäre) set to man the decks, The Wood‘s Audiorama night promises to bring a little Berlin to Brussels this weekend. And, with Koln’s Audio Werner joining Dan D for a double-whammy of house goodness, the night’s guaranteed to go on until the early hours…

14th October

The Wood, Avenue de Flore 3 Floralaan – 1000 Brussels

www.thewood.be

YMC Fairisle Knit Jumper (170 euros)

Available at Lowi, Rue de Flandre 124 Vlaamsesteenweg, 1000 Brussels

www.lowi.be

The exhibitions to go to: Dirk Braeckman and Florian Maier-Aichen

Dirk Braeckman

Photography by Dirk Braeckman, courtesy of Zeno X Gallery Antwerp

With a comprehensive retrospective of internationally renowned Belgian photographer Dirk Braeckman the exhibition at M provides an overview of his body of work ranging from the self-portraits of the early beginnings to the newer landscape images. The mysterious and anonymous quality of his photos prevail throughout Braeckman’s whole oeuvre, avoiding to emphasize the link with the subject and opting instead for unfocused presentations in dark shades of grey.

Until 8th January

M – Museum Leuven, L. Vanderkelenstraat 28 – 3000 Leuven

www.mleuven.be

Florian Maier-Aichen

Photography by Forian Maier Aichen

By combining traditional analogue photography and digital editing, Florian Maier-Aichen has managed to create a language of his own and redefine the concept of landscape imagery. Abstract, unsettling and at times surreal, his pictures contain a poetic nature. The images can originate from sources as varied as documentary or textbook photos to escapist landscape paintings. From there, the artist’s visual vocabulary and broad technical repertoire take over, fully aware that it is in the commingling of genres that an original view emerges.

Until 19th October

Galerie Baronian Francey, Rue Isidore Verheydenstraat 2 – 1050 Brussels

www.baronianfrancey.com

The night out: Catclub

Following its annual summer hiatus, Brussels’ Catclub gets the party season started again with, this Saturday, a live set by American-born and Berlin-based prodigy John Roberts, psychedelic visual arts by Panaframe from London and the night’s usual tribe of shiny, happy people. Without a doubt the only place to be this Saturday for all you party people out there.

Watch the teaser:

8th October, 23h00

iMAL, Quai des Charbonnages 30 Koolmijnenkaai – 1080 Brussels

www.catclub.be

The shop to stop by: Tea time with Paul Smith

Photography courtesy of Paul Smith

Drop by Antwerp’s Paul Smith shop on Friday afternoon to discover the quintessential British brand’s new collection in a very, erm, British way: tea, scones and maybe even those little triangular cucumber sandwiches.

7th October, 17h00 – 19h00

Paul Smith Shop, Kelderstraat 2-3 – 2000 Antwerp

www.paulsmith.co.uk

The concert to catch: Crystal Antlers

The California quintet from Long Beach started making a name for itself in 2008 with its highly acclaimed self-released debut EP. Known for their energetic live shows, Crystal Antlers now come to Brussels to present their new album ‘Two-Way Mirror’ with their typical mixture of psychedelic and progressive rock.

Watch the video of the new single Summer Solstice:

7th October, 20h00

Ancienne Belgique,  Avenue Anspach 10 Anspachlaan – 1000 Brussels

www.abconcerts.be

Nike Sky Force ’88 (from 85 euros)

Available from Oki-ni

The exhibitions to go to:

Rinus van de Velde: The art of storytelling

Hailed as one of the most promising young artists in Belgium, Rinus Van de Velde’s charcoal drawings accompanied by witty texts relating to separate moments in his semi-fictional biography have caught the eye of the international art intelligentsia around the globe. His most recent exhibition will see him present a new series of drawings that circle around the theme of the artist studio. These drawings will tell stories that are to a certain extent autonomous and can be read individually from each other, leaving it up to the viewer to be directly challenged to imagine the larger story Van de Velde is aiming to share.

Until 22nd October

TIM VAN LAERE GALLERY, Verlatstraat 23-25 – 2000 Antwerp

www.timvanlaeregallery.com

Die Essenz der Dinge: design and the art of reduction

The question of sustainability has never been as relevant, be it in fashion, food or design, as it is today. The Design Museum’s current show examines the kind of design that illustrates the “art of reduction” – cutting back on materials and going for products with a longer life expectancy. The exhibition aims to provide the explanation behind the rational design logic in aspects such as the production process, spatial limitations or aesthetic trends, setting design icons ranging from le Corbusier to Eero Saarinen against similar figures from the worlds of fashion, food design and art.

Until 16th October

DESIGN MUSEUM GHENT, Jan Breydelstraat 5 – 9000 Ghent

www.designmuseumgent.be

The festival to catch: TodaysArt.BE 2011

Photography courtesy of TodaysArt

After having established itself over the last six years as one of the most exciting festivals in the Netherlands, TodaysArt set its sights on the capital. Its unique mixture of contemporary visual and performing arts including a wealth of concerts, exhibitions, workshops or installations in public spaces can be discovered throughout the city from 29th September to 1st October. See here for a detailed programme and here for a map with all festival locations.

TodaysArt Festival Brussels

From 29th September to 1st October

www.todaysart.org/be/

The night out: Nuit Blanche

Photography by Benjamin Brolet

An initiative of TodaysArt.BE Festival 2011, the Nuit Blanche is an all-nighter which blends national and international music acts together with audiovisual art. One ticket will get you entry to seven parties in seven different locations, ranging in genres from Minimal Techno and Drum&Bass to Folk and Swing. Check here for an overview.

Nuit Blanche Parties

1st October, 23h00 – 06h00

www.2011.nuitblanchebrussels.be

The movies to watch: Elles tournent

Photography courtesy of Elles tournent

Offering a platform to female directors, the film festival ‘Elles tournent’ will put 39 movies on the big screen, including 19 motion pictures and 20 short films. With a special focus on the Netherlands and Taiwan, the 4-day-programme takes into account established directors as well as rising talents from all around the globe. See here for the full schedule.

From 29th September to 2nd October

BOTANIQUE, Rue Royale 236 Koningsstraat – 1210 Brussels

www.ellestournent-damesdraaien.org

What you need to do

• Log on to The Word Magazine’s Facebook fan page by clicking here
• ‘Share’ our Facebook fanpage on your wall by clicking the share icon at the bottom left of the magazine’s page:

• Once the ‘Share this Page’ pop-up window opens up, paste this message in the text box: “Belgium’s most-read counter culture magazine with a twist. Style, music, photography, culture and design seen from the ground up. And if you like their fanpage I might even win myself one of their goodie bags.” You should have this:

• Once that’s done, click the ‘Share Page’ icon and your post should appear on your wall shortly.
• Once it has, take a screen shot of the post on your wall, and email it to wewrite@thewordmagazine.be together with your full name, postal address and date of birth. Please title the email ‘I’ve shared your page’.

The first 10 readers to do so will each get a goodie bag sent to them. If, for any reason, one smart soul out there distinguished him or herself through his or her enthusiasm to promote our Facebook page, we’d probably find it within ourselves to prepare an extra goodie bag. As long as you’ve got a screen shot to back up your claim to Word-fame. Competition closes this Friday 30th September at 18h00.

The exhibitions to go to: Richard Prince and Donna Wilson

Photograph courtesy of Almine Rech Gallery

Richard Prince: The Fug

We all know Richard Prince for his Jokes, Nurses, Cowboys and Girlfriends series, as well as for his heavy use of rephotography. A member of the influential Pictures Generation, the American artist had a strong hand in expanding the scope of conceptual photography through the use of appropriation. This first solo show at Brussels’ Almine Rech Gallery gives the audience the perfect occasion to explore Prince’s fascination with American culture, Borscht Belt jokes, car enthusiasm, pulp-literature, and his unmatchable knack for elevating material directly sourced from the underbelly of soceity to the status of fine art.

Until 5th November

ALMINE RECH GALLERY

Rue de l’Abbaye 20 Abdijstraat -1050 Brussels

www.alminerech.com

Photograph by Gareth Hacker

Donna Wilson, Ercol & SCP

The Brussels-based design showroom La Fabrika has invited Donna Wilson to create an installation in collaboration with established British manufacturers Ercol and SCP. Earning the accolade of British Designer of the Year 2010, Wilson has been quoted as being “wonderful with wool”, a “material marvel”, a “textile designer extraordinaire” and even an “all round textile legend”. Characterised by a playful nature, tactile aesthetic and multicoloured palette, the young designer’s work ranges from colourful knitted creatures to striking upholstered furniture designs, which all promise to be a refreshing sight during this month’s Design September festival.

Until 30th September

LA FABRIKA

Rue Antoine Dansaert 182 Dansaertstraat – 1000 Brussels

www.lafabrika.be

The tour to take: Designers Weekend

© SICIS - The art mosaic factory

Hot on the heels of Design September, Brussels’ Designers Weekend brings together professionals as well as amateurs for a weekend of impromptu meetings and punctuated showcases. Over 15 hotspots have been selected – showrooms, shops and galleries – to provide as rounded a view as possible of the current crop of local talent. Think open doors with a slightly more commercial focus. What’s more, the lazy ones out there can rejoice in the thought of a shuttle service having been organised just for them, taking them from one stop to the next at their own pace. Sign up for it here.

The shuttles run from 10h00 to 18h00, and departs from the Nonciature, Place du Sablon / Grote Zavel

The movies to watch: Truffaut retrospective at the Cinematek

This Thursday, Brussels’ Cinematek started a comprehensive retrospective dedicated to French director and cult cinematic icon Francois Truffaut, one of the most influential filmmakers in history and co-founder of the French Nouvelle Vague. An extensive collection of Truffaut’s films will be replayed on the big screen until 31st October, with this weekend’s agenda screening Les Quatre Cents Coups (Saturday at 19h00), awarded at the Cannes Film Festival and the director’s first huge success, as well as its more experimental successor Tirez Sur Le Pianiste (Sunday at 19h00).

CINEMATEK

Rue Baron Horta 9 Hortastraat – 1000 Brussels

www.cinematek.be

Watch the trailer of Les Quatre Cents Coups:

The shop to stop by: Diito’s Hay pop-up store

Photograph courtesy of Hay.dk

Brussels-based gallery and interior design shop diito opened up a pop-up store solely dedicated to award-winning furniture namesake Hay. During the course of three weeks you’ll be able to admire the Danish imprint’s creations which bring 1950s and 1960s design philosophies closer to and contemporary ones.

Open every day of the weekend from 11h00 to 18h30

HAY POP-UP STORE

Rue de la Régence 9 Regentschapsstraat – 1000 Brussels

www.diito.be

Chanel’s ‘Les jeans de Chanel’ (25 euros for one)

Available exclusively at the Chanel Fashion Boutique, Chaussée de Waterloo 63 Waterloosteenweg – 1000 Brussels

www.chanel.com

The concert to go to: Boots Electric

There’s no point denying the soft spot we have for Eagles Of Death Metal frontman Jesse Hughes. The self-proclaimed hillbilly and endearing sleazebag extraordinaire has taken some time off from the cock-rock band he shares with bestie Josh Homme to embark on a solo journey as Boots Electric. Cannot wait.

Watch the album trailer:

17th September

TRIX, Noordersingel 28-30 - 2140 Antwerp

Get tickets here

The show you can’t miss: Raw Edges, from flat to full

Design dealer Victor Hunt brings Israeli-born, London-based designers raw edges to town for an extensive overview of their most recent work, the lot to be exhibited in the city’s favourite style boutique Hunting and Collecting.

8th to 25th September

HUNTING AND COLLECTING, Rue des Chartreux 17 Kartuiserstraat- 1000 Brussels

The night out: Indie Club

You don’t have to wait for a weekend trip to London or Berlin anymore to dance to indie tunes: Brussels finally has caught up and hosts its own indie rock/pop party every month in the The Wood. Expect an eclectic mix ranging from Blur and Arctic Monkeys to The Doors or Metronomy. The season’s opening party is this Friday and we wouldn’t miss it for a thing.

16th September

THE WOOD, Avenue de Flore 3 Floralaan – 1000 Brussels

The walk to take: Design September’s Open Doors

You’ve always wondered how and where designers work? Now you have the chance to find out, thanks to Design September, the Belgian capital’s biggest design festival stretching out over four weeks. This weekend the two-day Open Doors event invites everyone interested to come visit Brussels-based artists’ workspaces and have a look behind the scenes. The perfect occasion to stroll through the city and discover its hidden creative laboratories.

For an overview of all participating studios have a look here.

Putting our money where our mouths are, we’re giving one lucky reader the chance to win a complete Braun cruZer set. All you need to do is send us a web-cammed photograph of you and your facial hair to wewrite@thewordmagazine.be and you might just set yourself up for an upgrade in machinery. Competition ends Friday 16th September at 18h00.

Photographer Melika Ngombe

The exhibition to go to: Alina Szapocznikow: Sculpture Undone, 1955-1972

Coinciding with the Polish EU presidency Wiels hosts one of the first large-scale exhibitions of this pioneering and provocative artist outside of Poland. Focusing on her experimental period, the show gathers more than a hundred of her works, among which the tinted polyester casts of her lips and breasts transformed into everyday objects like lamps or ashtrays.

10th September to 8th January

Wednesdays to Sundays 11h00 – 18h00

WIELS, Av. Van Volxem 354 Volxemlaan – 1190 Brussels

www.wiels.org

(first published in the blue album)

The store to drop by: Atelier Solarshop

A mix of playful yet modern aesthetic objects and items fill up the space of Atelier Solarshop in Antwerp for the third edition of their Pop-Up project. The selection of exclusive, limited and numbered works by international young talents is only available until 8th October – so make sure not to miss out.

ATELIER SOLARSHOP, Dambruggestraat 48 – 2060 Antwerp

Wednesdays to Saturdays until 8th October, 11h00-18h30

www.ateliersolarshop.be

(first published in the blue album)

The night out

Los Ninos is throwing another one of their memorable nights. This time they have Hot Chip‘s Alexis Taylor with his new super band About Group lined-up. Concert, visuals, and some of Belgium’s finest DJs will make sure you’ll dance till dawn and enjoy a proper Sunday hangover.

The movies to see: Ecran Total

Ecran Total, a film festival organised by Cinema Arenberg, is going into its last week. The concept: Give movie enthusiasts the opportunity to see motion pictures on the big screen that usually are rather hard to catch – including  classic and out-of-the-ordinary pieces or even recent films you might have missed first time round. This weekend the selection includes Frederick Wiseman’s celebrated documentary ‘Boxing Gym’.

CINEMA ARENBERG , Galerie de la Reine 26 Koninginnegallerij – 1000 Brussels

www.arenberg.be

The walk to take: Bookshop Days

A group of young booksellers from Brussels organises for the first time the Bookshop Days – an event that intends to showcase the bookshops of the Belgian capital including exhibitions, encounters and (re)discoveries. Grab the chance to take a walk around the city and rummage through piles of publications. Not just for bookworms!

Take a look here to see a list of the participating stores

Photographer Gregoire Pleynet. With many (many) thanks to Link Leisure for the art intervention.

With thanks to Grégoire Pleynet for the behind the scenes footage.

Photographer Yana Foqué

Places, strange and quiet (2011) by Wim Wenders – Hatje Cantz

At times intriguing, at others downright hilarious, Wim Wenders’ photography captures the everyday absurdities he encounters on his many travels – everything from oversized cowboys sporting Wrangler denim skirts to windowless backyard sheds and deserted former submarine assembly plants. With characteristic wit, the celebrated filmmaker creates visual statements on non-descript places which draw meaning not from their subject matter but, rather, from Wenders’ watchful gaze, and the notes accompanying each photograph. Opposite a photograph depicting a Bavarian policeman looking onto Italian activists running amok through a field for example, the sentence reads: “The G8 in Germany…Protesters ran through the fields, Italian activists carrying a sign PACE. A Bavarian policeman turned to his colleague: “Look, these idiots don’t even know how to spell PEACE.””  It’s simple, self-explanatory and works wonders. Pure Wenders.

Available from Amazon

Behind the zines: Self-publishing culture (2011) – Gestalten

However limited their print run, the impact self-published fanzines have had on the growth of certain counter-cultures and musical movements make them the undeniable and ultimate voice of independent thinking. The precursor to blogs, what really distinguished these homemade, low budget boutique publications was their approach to art direction, graphic design and production. Antiquated print presses were preserved merely to achieve a particular finish, paper stocks mixed-and-matched to rainbow effect, 3D typefaces created out of pure ‘zine zeal and binding techniques so advanced even the Japanese couldn’t catch up. An exhaustive, well put together and, above all, accurate survey of the culture in itself, Behind the zines manages to succinctly capture the movement’s essence without reading like a how to guide.

Available from Amazon

In a lonely place (2011) by Gregory Crewdson – Hatje Cantz

Best known for his highly staged, film-like photography, Crewdson also has a more intimate and intuitive side to his work, one which somehow seems more improvised and less restrained. Although the celebrated photographer shot to prominence with his sometimes glacial series Beneath the Roses (2003-2008), Crewdson manages to counter his tendency towards the pre-determined with rather more personal series such as Sanctuary (2009), a black and white documentary which captures Fellini’s famed Cinecitta studios in Rome, or Fireflies (1996), which reflects the artist’s interest in nature. In each of the series though, Crewdson’s ability to contrast an overriding sense of sadness with an unquestionable and somewhat naïve beauty remains the unsettling element that makes of his visual aesthetic one of the most innovative in contemporary photography today.

Available from Amazon

From Polaroid to Impossible (2011) – Hatje Cantz

Along with the demise of the Polaroid Corporation came the realisation that its legendary Polaroid Collection housed in New York and Europe would need to be auctioned off to pay off angry creditors and administrators. Aghast, a movement made of artists, museums and photography lovers and led by the Polaroid-perfected artist Chuck Close came to life, mobilising itself to ensure preservation of the 16,000-strong collection which includes instant photography by the likes of Ansel Adams, Robert Mapplethorpe, Andy Warhol and Helmut Newton. The group succeeded in its quest to avoid a sale, and this book is the result of their perseverance.

Available from Amazon

Global Denim (2011) by Daniel Miller and Sophie Woodward – Berg Publisher

The dominance denim enjoys over other textiles in the fashion industry is unparalleled. It’s a natural monopoly of the global uniform, one which has rarely been investigated. From the streets of Mumbai and the back alleys of Mexico City to the urban townships of middle America and the rural villages of central Africa, nothing says effortless cool the way a pair of jeans does – be they boot cuts, slim fits or baggies. But what, exactly, makes them so ubiquitous? What is their anthropological meaning when taken in their local contexts? At times a heavy read that can make you feel like you’re back at college, Global Denim uses the Great Depression, Bollywood screenings and Rio de Janeiro’s funk balls to reach a set of conclusions explaining the unquestionable rise of denim as the global garment of the world.

Available from Amazon

Jeff Wall, The Crooked Path (2011) – Bozar Books and Ludion

The accompanying book to the Canadian photographer’s monumental exhibition of the same name currently on show at Brussels’ Bozar, The Crooked Path represents Wall’s attempt to make sense of his body of work in a very public manner by contextualising it, confronting it even, to the works of his contemporaries and icons. Using as starting point a simple picture of a landscape, Wall proceeds to historically reference his work – large-scale photography framed in light boxes for the most part – opting for total transparency as far as inspiration goes: he makes no secret, for example, of having taken inspiration from Delacroix’s La Mort de Sardanapale for The Destroyed Room, his 1978 depiction of a ransacked room. And that is the beauty of Wall’s work: conscious of its debt to the past, but keen to translate it for the future.

Available from Amazon

(first published in the blue album)

Following a three months hiatus, we’re back with a bang. Our blue album. It hits the street Friday, 2nd September and we’d love for you to join us for a drink or two and a little boogie. It’s all happening at the À St Médard Centre for Arts, located on Rue Haute 298C – 300 Hoogstraat, in 1000 Brussels (it’s a 2min walk from the flea market). Proceedings begin at 19h00, with a small showcase of the Prouvé RAW collection, a collaborative exercise in design re-edition that sees denim brand G-Star RAW partner up with design manufacturer Vitra to re-edit a collection of Jean Prouvé design pieces. Expect historical artefacts, blow-up print outs and a lesson or two in denim excellence. We’ll also be handing our some Word-branded cotton goodie bags (filled by the likes of G-Star RAW, Hugo Boss and ourselves) to the 250 first readers to arrive so make sure to come early. Join the Facebook event page here.

Musically, we’ve concocted a line up sure to get you up on your feet:

1. Sixsixsixties(Antwerp, DJ set)
2. Slove(Paris, Live)
3. Ménage à Deux (Brussels, DJ set)

Needless to say, an essential pre-condition is a willingness to come out of the studio looking nothing like you did when you entered. You must also be available week commencing 8th August – on the Monday for the casting, and on the Friday for the shoot (in Brussels).

If you think you fit the script, please email a recent photograph of yourself to tinecl@gmail.com and we’ll be in touch with more details.

Photography Tine Claerhout

Editorial Assistant

The Word Magazine, Belgium’s leading free fashion, music and culture bi-monthly, is looking for an editorial assistant to assist and support the publisher and senior editorial staff in the day-to-day running of the magazine.  The position is best suited to a journalism/communications graduate with a strong passion for media, fashion, music, the arts and events. Candidates with previous experience working in media and who display a strong sense of professionalism, passion and dedication will be given preference.

The job.

1. Assist in the coordination of all aspects of editorial production:
   1. Editorial research, brainstorms, flat plan.
   2. Briefing, commissioning and liaising with contributors (photographers, writers, illustrators).
   3. Establishing and managing production schedules.
   4. Scouting locations and sourcing props.
2. Write, edit, proofread and fact-check copy.
3. Picture researching, image sourcing and copyright attribution.
4. Assist the online editor in actively contributing to online content production:
   1. Assist in shaping online editorial direction.
   2. Liaise with contributors.
   3. Manage online editorial calendar and advertising schedule.
5. Assist in the organization of events:
   1. Five album release parties per year.
6. Provide a support function to marketing and sales.

1. Assist with mailings and distribution.

1. Daily office tasks

The skills.

• Ability to work under pressure, on schedule and to tight deadlines.
• Ability to be proactive, learn fast and think out-of-the-box.
• English and Flemish (written and spoken, essential), French (written and spoken, optional).

The requirements.

• Journalism, advertising or marketing communications graduate.
• Minimum of one year professional experience required.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Photoshop.
• Previous experience working in media preferred, but not essential.
• Driving license a plus.

The offer.

We offer the opportunity to work in a stimulating and creative environment, in an office based five minutes away from Montgomery in Brussels. This is your chance to work within a young and small team and be part of an exciting venture.

Interested? Email your CV and an accompanying letter (in English please) to n.lewis@thewordmagazine.be, clearly stating when you could begin and what your monthly salary expectations are.

Photography Tine Claerhout

Photography Tine Claerhout

Photography Tine Claerhout

Photography Tine Claerhout

Photography Tine Claerhout

Catclub special birthday edition

This Saturday, 25th June

iMal, Quai des Charbonnages 30 Koolmijnenkaai - 1080 Brussels

In short, we’re looking to shoot your teenage sanctuary, provided your parents haven’t turned it into a second guest room or the ‘entertainment’ room since you left the family nest.

If you think your bedroom is worthy, please send an email with a photograph of it to wewrite@thewordmagazine.be, and your childhood bedroom just might end up in our blue album, out on 2nd September.

Photography Amanda Harman

We first started toying with the idea of developing an iPad app towards the end of the summer 2010. Apple had just released its game-changing device and, well, we were just as excited as the rest of them. I remember calling Geoffroy (of Central Design, our web agency), foolishly telling him: “we need to do something on that iPad thingy”, thinking at the time that a day or two of coding (three at most) would do it. Not quite, no…

First there was the three months of planning: napkin doodles and sketches, navigation flow charts and design screen shots – picture white walls plastered with sheets and sheets of screen shots continuously being amended, moved and removed. Once the app’s design and flow was set in stone, we met with our developer Thomas (of Suit My Mind), outlining what we had in mind. Once he told us what was doable, and what we could already forget about right from the get-go, he got down to business and started coding. This took another two months (give-and-take), and was the stage where Geoffroy and Thomas really came together like Voltron. I saw the Basecamp exchanges the two wizards had, but hadn’t a clue what they were on about.  All I knew is that I couldn’t wait to test the first version of our app.

Fast-forward to February 2011, and here I was, like a little puppy, installing a first Beta version on my iPad. And I loved it. Sure, it wasn’t perfect and certain tweaks still needed to be made, but then and there I knew we were on the right track. The excitement was palpable, and I could already see the magazine’s name in big letters under the AppStore’s ‘App of the Week’ banner. It was clean, it looked beautiful and, above all, it was Word (my incessant pestering to Geoffroy about needing to keep the app as ‘Word as possible’ had, it seemed, paid off). All we now needed to do was take into account all the feedback people had given us (we had asked the extended Word-fam to test the app out to the max), and we’d be ready to submit it to Apple for their approval. Not quite, no…

First, Apple came back with some rather tedious things they wanted us to change (add disclaimers to contests, remove dummy banners, etc…). Then, the advertiser we had secured to launch the app in conjunction with was forced to pull-out at the last minute following the double-pronged disaster in Japan. And this happened five days before launch. Arg!

In the end, this turned out to be quite an omen as an advertiser we had approached as an alternative, Nikon, showed immediate interest and took no more than two days (two days!!) to come back with a positive answer. Finally, ten months after that first napkin doodle, we were ready for take-off and the tip-top Word icon Geoffroy designed for the app finally made its debut on the AppStore.

So, what can you expect from The Word’s iPad app and its five sections (Life, Style, Music, Culture and Exclusives)? More video content (music interviews, humming sessions, studio visits, neighbourhood guides, summer festival coverage), image galleries (exhibition previews, photographers’ portfolios, throw-away projects) and extended profile pieces, interviews and features. All of The Word’s back issues will also be available for free download. We’ll be posting more tips on how to use our app as well as other iPad applications which would sit well next to ours throughout the week.

I truly hope you enjoy this new version of The Word and please do let us know what you think of it, either on our Facebook page, by email (wewrite@thewordmagazine.be) or by Tweet-mentioning us with your comments.

PS: a massive (MASSIVE!) thank you to both Geoffroy and Thomas for their patience (the levels of indecisiveness they sometimes had to put up with would have driven me mad), perseverance (there is no doubt they were tempted to tell me to, very simply, fuck off more than once) and ingenuity (we basically asked them for 50K euro project without having even a tenth of that budget). If the web/app world sainted some of its players, these two would be top of the list.

Download The Word’s iPad app here

© Joke De Wilde

These “no fuss, no frills” 7d Bermuda shorts, found in Brussels’ Privejoke boutique, have the versatility of a simple basic backed by an irreproachable cut, discreet details, and superior quality natural fabric. The kind that’d work well for a casual Friday in the office, Saturday evening drinks or lazy Sunday brunch. Designed in Ghent, the menswear collection launched in 2007 finds its place between high-end sportswear and designer pieces and can be seen as Belgium’s answer to A.P.C. “You could compare it to very simple music that manages to achieve great creativity despite only using the same few notes,” says designer and founder Philippe Poelman of 7d’s collections. With its neutral colours, discreet details, and elegant understated sophistication, Philippe Poelman’s timeless designs speak to men who know fashion and seek to forge their own style or younger customers who are simply looking for quality in pieces that will never go out of fashion.

Bermuda shorts from 7d (€135)
Available in black or white from Privejoke (Brussels) and Hot Couture (Ghent)
7d-be.com

As always, a massive thank you to Guillaume for the pictures.

Thomas, Bert and Dries © Yana Foqué

Dries Dauwe (drums) and Bert Huyghe (vocals, bass) formed the band in 2008, recruiting the latter’s then 16-year-old brother Thomas to take on guitar duty. With a radically DIY approach and a colourful aesthetic, their debut – 11 furiously erratic and spontaneous no-wave tinted tracks – was taped on second hand cassettes and sold in a bag with a lollipop and a balloon. Not loud enough to fit in with the local metal scene yet too deconstructed to achieve national airplay, the band ended up in the strange sonic no-man’s land of lo-fi. Although the boys rapidly gained a loyal following in Ghent, even securing an opening slot for Wavves at Brussels’ L’Ancienne Belgique, they’re still relatively unpopular back in their hometown. “It’s really hard to explain how redneck and conservative our area is,” says Bert. “Most of our songs sound like the place they’re made in – a very grey and sad zone,” adds Dries, whose parents’ shed in Lembeke serves as a rehearsal and recording studio. At first listen, their tunes carry a bright, summery and overwhelming feel. Hope shines through, yet reality always seems to catch up with the music, pervading it with melancholic undertones. And that pretty much sums up their core. “After every ambitious sentence we utter, we always just say ‘then we can go shovel shit under a train’. We want to make it, but also know we might end up becoming postmen in our villages,” Bert cynically jokes. An LP on indie label Smoke & Dust is planned for September, but “it will still be recorded on a four-track,” assures Thomas. “We’re not leaving the shed just yet.”

Below are some pictures the boys took of their homes and Lembeke shed on one of our disposable cameras.

Photographer Adam Goldberg

The Goldberg Sisters’ self-titled debut album is out now on [PIAS].

Photographer Joke De Wilde

Thanks to Piwifilms.

Photographer Sebastien Bonin, Fashion Laurent Dombrowicz

And not one, but two parties. One in Brussels on Friday 20th May. And one in Ghent on Saturday 21st May.

In Brussels on Friday, 20th May from 19h00 onwards.

Address – L’Epicerie Fine de la Senne, Rue de Bon Secours 4-6 Bijstandstraat 1000 Brussels (a 2min walk from Prive Joke). Find it on Google Maps here

With music by William (Uphigh Collective) and JustNathan

In Ghent on Saturday, 21st May from 19h00 onwards.

Address – N°13, Sint Pietersnieuwstraat 9000 Ghent (a 1min walk from the Vooruit). Find it on Google Maps here

With music by Judo Club, Ping Pong Tactics (live set), Dynooo (Surf Kill), Tino and Fred Nasen

Join the Facebook event here

Sponsored by Schweppes and Dolce Gusto

Photography Joke De Wilde

And even though it’s the kind of concept that has New York, Tokyo or Dubai plastered all over it, Electrolux, rather strangely, picked our humble capital as the starting point for The Cube’s itinerating route, which will see it set foot in Stockholm, Moscow and Zurich during the coming year. For the moment though, it can be spotted towering atop the Cinquantenaire/Jubbelpark’s triumphal arch, where it will remain for three months.

Playing the cutting-edge tech card to the fullest, each guest is greeted with a shiny new white iPad 2 and encouraged to take pictures of the panoramic view. Using the classic “table d’hôte” concept, all 18 guests are seated at the same table, encouraged to mingled and interact. L’Air du Temps’ innovative chef Sang-Hoon Degeimbre cheerfully shares his passion and knowledge of local products and herbs with anecdotes, poetry and even forest sounds recordings playing in the background, and with each step of the meal explained and detailed, the average length of a lunch/dinner (three hours) go by in a flash. Haute cuisine then, in its most literal meaning.

The Cube by Electrolux
In Brussels until 3rd July
Booking can be made online here
electrolux.be

Former model turned instant counter culture soldier Elisabeth Ouni has also been dabbling in party promotion of late. Her latest gig, dubbed ‘The Spicy Issue‘, sees none other than Spoek Mathambo take centre stage at Antwerp’s Club magic, a retro-fantastic venue nestled in the basement of the city’s Ramada Plaza Hotel. With Luxembourg’s Kwistax and our very own Funkmaster Frits as supporting acts, we pinky promise the night to be as electric as Jimi Hendrix‘s Fender and as sunny as a Studio One-scented Sunday morning.

Never ones to leave you out of it, we have two pairs of tickets to give-away to the two first readers who email wewrite@thewordmagazine.be specifying ‘The Spicy Issue’ in the subject box and your full name and date of birth in the body.

• Photography Toon Aerts, Vincent Dechamps, amongst others

Photography and captions Vermin Twins

Jean-Pierre Jarre, the unknown twin of Jean Michel

Too many stickers but no talent!

Fire in the hole!

5 Point Finger Fire Split Technique Skill (5PFFSTS)

He used to be our friend but now he lives in Diest!

Food motivation: 0.1

Back Scratch Fever

Some call him J or Djanaan.

Get out of my dreams, get into my car.

Blurry Fluf Rubber

Our Highness!

Some hooligan we picked up...

With thanks to Ulrike Biets

Photography Bo Ningen

Address – Le Bar Rouge, Rue du Pépin 41 Kernstraat (1000 Brussels). Find it on Google Maps here

Join the Facebook event here

Music by Jealov

Special thanks to Wilfried for making sure the camera safely got back to us.

Photography Sébastien Bonin

Photography Sébastien Bonin

Photography Sébastien Bonin

Photographer Sébastien Bonin

Photographer’s assistant Ludovic Hanton

Fashion Simon-Pierre Toussaint

Retouching Jonathan Steelandt

Hair and make-up Sigrid Volders for Chanel and Bumble & Bumble

Model Helen Feskens @ Dominique Models

Photography Sarah Eechaut, Sarah Michielsen and pleaseletmedesign

Pictures below courtesy of Sarah Michielsen

Pictures below courtesy of Pierre and Damien

Come on feet

We’ll let the gallons of vodka downed during this edition’s conception take the blame for this ridiculous mistake…

1-bis. Page 87 – The Russian Issue (November – December 2010)

… and this one.

2. Page 68 – The Morning After Issue (January – February 2010)

Photography has become quite over-rated lately. We’ve decided “phtography” is where it’s at. Apologies to Ulrike for butchering her name though… It was the “Morning After” issue after all.

3. Page 62 – The Skin Issue (March – April 2010)

Here’s assuming we were probably referring to the “other” left?

Address – Delecta, 2 Rue Lannoy (1050 Brussels)

Music by Miss Hot Tracks - www.mixcloud.com/misshottracks

Join the Facebook event

1. Benoit Berben (full disclosure: Benoit used to work at The Word which, normally, should make him ineligible to win but have a look at the care he put in his response and tell us if you think he shouldn’t be Number One).

2. Maud Watine

3. Nina Clayton

Photography Yassin Serghini (www.yassinserghini.com)

Many objects come with the added bonus of announcing a certain coming-of-age. A maturity. A willigness to take a step up and, well, grow up. In the same way as you now start looking at blazer coats in a different light (“they’re ok when worn on top of a pair of jeans” you might even catch yourself saying) and could actually see yourself getting rid of that tub of hair gel. It’s not about being the loudest or flashiest anymore. Instead, you’d rather get noticed for those little choices you make, the defining ones. It’s all in the detail now isn’t it…

Aptly named New Gent, Swatch’s latest collection of tempting timepieces (pictured above) carries its name to perfection. It is ‘New’ through its updated colour codes, a subtle reminder of what Swatch does best – colour pairing.  And it is classic because well, it is really only meant for a ‘Gent’. And by ‘Gent’ we mean the ‘attitude’, not the gender.

To celebrate the new collection, we have three watches to give-away to three lucky readers. All you need to do is email wewrite@thewordmagazine.be telling us in one sentence what your earliest memory of Swatch is, and you just might be the winner. Competiton closes Friday 3rd December and please make sure to title your email ‘Swatch’s New Gent’.

Swatch’s New Gents collection, from 50,00 euros.

Available from Swatch’s online shop

Photography Yassin Serghini (www.yassinserghini.com)

To make it as relevant and timely an app as possible, we’d love to hear your thoughts on a few issues. So, please be so kind as to take the required 4 minutes (tops!) to fill out the questionnaire below.

To thank you for taking the time to answer these 12 questions, we’ll randomly pick two of you to win a bottle of champagne as well as a bottle of vodka.

With extra special thanks to Julien Hassid (director), Jochem Thyssen (distributor/actor), Yassin Serghini (photography/camera).

Photography Ulrike Biets

Photography Sarah Eechaut

With this in mind, the Vivabox makes your gift-giving that much easier. Neatly packaged, it boasts a cultural bundle including two entrances to Brussels’ Magritte Museum, a book (‘Le petit musée Magritte / Het Kleine Magritte museum’), a DVD by Henri de Gerlache (‘Magritte : le jour et la nuit / Magritte: de dag en de nacht’), as well as a night at the city’s Hotel Bloom (with, wait for it, breakfast included ;-)). Total value of the gift box is €189, and we have one for a lucky reader of ours to win.

As usual, all you need to do is send an email to wewrite@thewordmagazine.be titled ‘Vivabox ‘, and stating your full name, postal address and date of birth in the body of the email. First reader to do so wins. Simple.

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/15868930[/vimeo]

© Ulrike Biets

Photography Sanne Delcroix

Taking over the indoor playground of Ixelles’ Ecole Les Mouettes (Av. des Eperons d’Or 16 Guldensporenlaan, 1050 Brussels), we’re throwing yet another party that’ll ensure you give the start of the year the kick off it deserves. It’s all happening on SATURDAY 18TH SEPTEMBER, from 22h00 onwards.Entrance is €7,00. Find the school on Google Maps here (it’s literally a two minute walk from Flagey).

LINE UP FOR THE NIGHT
Jean-Biche
L-Fêtes versus Bernard Dobbeleer
Lady Jane (Catclub)

To give the whole event just an extra dose of themed integrity, we’ve even enlisted a yearbook photographer for the night, whose mission it will be to photograph each and every guest coming through the school doors. Come prepared then, as your lovely mug might end up in our November-December edition.

Join the Facebook event page here

And here are some images of the school that’ll host our party:

]]> http://www.thewordmagazine.be/office/saturday-18th-september-we-go-back-to-school/feed/ 5 http://www.thewordmagazine.be/office/the-throw-away-project-jimmy-edgar/ http://www.thewordmagazine.be/office/the-throw-away-project-jimmy-edgar/#comments Tue, 24 Aug 2010 07:36:41 +0000 Ulrike Biets http://www.thewordmagazine.be/?p=3057 When we met Jimmy Edgar at Dour festival, he was holding a bottle of whiskey in one hand and his buddy Otto von Shirach with the other. We asked him to let go of Otto and take our disposable camera instead. Which he did. The first single of Jimmy’s new album ‘XXX’ is called Hot Raw Sex and by the looks of the pics he shot for us, the man is for real.

Photography and captions Jimmy Edgar

"Should I put on some lipstick before we do this?"

"Stay like this while I show you my 'intensions'"

"Re: 'look what I did to you', perfection too bad it's not permanent"

"Despite falling out of bed head wounds, cigarette burns and chest xrays we are actually quite normal bloodsuckers"

"When the flash is too bright black nails licking bleeding lips"

"Re: 'can I wear your shirt?' yes, can I wear your everything?"

"Don't scare me like that, xoxo"

"From this angle is how I will steal your heart"

"And this is how I will steal yours"

"I have a cardboard play house in Berlin, and this weekend I don't give a fuck about being in complete disarray"

Well, that’s exactly what happened when Pete Doherty snapped the entire journey from his dressing room until the moment he hit the stage with Babyshambles at Les Ardentes, even inviting the massive crowd that gathered to say “cheese” for a few photos (scroll down for footage of the epic moment). Sadly, he left the disposable camera on an amp and when we rushed there in search of it, it was nowhere to be seen. Suspecting it ended up packed with the rest of the band’s gear, we approached him via Twitter, asking him to send it back to us. He kindly replied: “I def. will, if I find it. Cheers!” In the meantime, here are some shots picturing him with our beloved camera, starting with us explaining its various functions such as triggering the flash.

© Ulrike Biets

© Ulrike Biets

© Olivier Donnet

© Olivier Donnet

© Rachel Dery

© Rachel Dery

© Rachel Dery

Here’s our man capturing the audience as he steps onstage. Fast forward to 1.00 for a load of the action.

© Ulrike Biets

Here’s what the boys took with our disposable camera right after the gig:

© HEALTH

© HEALTH

© HEALTH

© HEALTH

© HEALTH

© HEALTH

© HEALTH

© HEALTH

© HEALTH

© HEALTH

Below are your usual festival pictures taken from the front stage area:

© Ulrike Biets

© Ulrike Biets

© Ulrike Biets

© Ulrike Biets

And here’s your exclusive peak at what was happening backstage:

© Lindsey Rome

© Lindsey Rome

© Lindsey Rome

© Lindsey Rome

© Lindsey Rome

© Lindsey Rome

© Lindsey Rome

Download the exclusive song here (starts from 16h00 today), and feel free to consider yourself lucky  – only 150,000 downloads will be allowed in the entire world.

Words Renasha Khan

Emily Scream #1, 2008, Digigraphie

The book is a celebration of this exhibition and contains detailed essays giving a lucid insight into the cineaste’s creative vision – a vision extended beyond cinema, to animation, lithography, digital print, drawings, photography, installation and painting. What is clear from the book is that his allure and success as a filmmaker is rooted in a love and understanding of painting and fine arts.

The reproductions in Dark Splendor are comprehensive and remarkably captivating, engaging not only fans but also a wider audience too. The Distorted Nudes series (2004) displays Lynch’s obvious fascination with the macabre, something that is undoubtedly evident throughout his dramatic works such as his much lauded TV series Twin Peaks (1990). Such fluid diffusion of concepts across media can also be seen in the remarkably detailed pen and ink matchbook drawings. These depict surreal landscapes and dreamlike interiors inside matchbooks and are suffused with the same sense of foreboding and atmospherics, which are so characteristic of his cinematic offerings and are resonant throughout the prints in the monograph.

David Lynch: Dark Splendor is a fan’s dream in that it illustrates the sheer breadth of Lynch’s artistry and stands up to claims of his genius. One thing is for sure; Lynch’s place is secure as one of the most enigmatic and quixotically creative energies of the 20th century.

David Lynch, (1946-)

Untitled from the Industrial Motives series, undated, photographs

Untitled from the Distorted Nudes series, 2004, digital print

Buy here

David Lynch: Dark Splendour
Edited by Werner Spies, texts by Dietmar Dath, Stefanie Diekmann, Thomas W. Gaethgens, Andreas Platthaus, Peter-Klaus Schuster, Werner Spies, graphic design by KOMA AMOK
English 2010
352 pp., 346 ills.
Published by Hatje Cantz, Berlin

The first, shot at Delvaux, was projected during the party, greeting and entertaining guests whilst waiting to get in.

The second, shot during the exhibition’s Collectors’ Brunch, gets some of the exhibiting artists talking.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpOSz8toD8Q http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=267SkWQdx3A

And here are some pictures Melika took at both the opening and the party itself.

So you have it, our second exhibition. This time, we’ve gone for something a little closer to home, presenting the works of five of the magazine’s photographers: Ulrike Biets, Sébastien Bonin, Kris De Smedt, Sarah Eechaut and Sarah Michielsen.

The show opens on Friday 23rd April, from 18h00, in the centre of Brussels. Strong work, free drinks and a good vibe. Come and have a look.

Attend (or not) on Facebook by clicking here

Copyright StefanoArchettiRexUSA

Skin and ska: The Specials

Nothing says ‘original skin’ more than The Specials. The brainchild of keyboardist Jerry Dammers, The Specials epitomised England’s ska revival movement of the late 70′s-early 80′s more than any other band, with tracks like ‘Too much too young’, ‘Gangsters’ and ‘Dog town’ echoing the decade’s many woes. Enjoying somewhat of a renewed interest in their career, the band recently made the cover of NME, whilst it also is scheduled to play in London at the end of the month. Here are some tit-bits of very special Specials love.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxHcx7FO8nI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrAibOio2GM&feature=fvst http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTo7VHFvu6o&feature=fvst

Skin and style: Skinheads

No subculture is complete without its own style, and skinheads had theirs locked down. From the obvious (Ben Sherman shirt, bomber jacket and Doc Martens) to the studied (the coulour of everything from your shoe lace to your shoe stitch) and more subtle (the size of your crop), the attention to detail prevalent in their aesthetic might confuse more than one as to the movement’s working class origins. Captured in Nick Knight‘s monumental social documentary ‘Skinhead’ (buy it here), celebrated in many a Shane Meadows‘ pictures (specially so in ‘This is England‘) and the source of inspiration for Raf Simons‘ collection for Fred Perry (another skinhead style staple), skinheads’ legacy is nowhere more evident than in the world of fashion.

The cover to photographer Nick Knight's infamous book, Skinhead

Stills from Shane Meadows' 'This is England'

'This is England' lead character Shawn

Essential viewing and Wikipidia knowledge for those who want more:

Skinhead attitude – documentary by Swiss Daniel Schweizer (buy it here)

American hardcore – documentary on the US hardcore scene: Bad Brains, Blag Flag, Minor Threat and the likes (buy it here)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NC3zxvDyY8c http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlcnS2jj05k

About 2Tone Records

About skinheads

About straight edge

About Skinheads Against Racial Prejudice

1. LOCAL RUDE BOYS NEEDED – Our March edition’s Fashion Special will capture the flamboyant and fickle world of rudeboy fashion. Sheep-skinned leather coats, Adidas tracksuit bottoms, white sox, Sebago’s and Louis Vuitton slinger-bags. Not to poke fun at, but rather, to immortalise. Know a bad boy with a blingy sense of (street) fashion? Have a penchant for mixing sportswear with luxury brands (think Scappa and D&G)? Want to give your neighbourhood thug some love? Email n.lewis@thewordmagazine.be with some pictures. Budgets are inexistent, but we have a load of perfumes (Giorgio Armani, Kenzo and Burberry) to giveaway to those of you who can help. The shoot takes place this Thursday morning, in Brussels.

2. SOMEONE WITH A CAR – The latest issue still needs to make it over to Leuven. Approximately 25 points need to be served, which should take you a maximum of 4 hours (it’s a small town, and they’re mostly in the center). The job pays 60 euros. Interested? Email n.lewis@thewordmagazine.be now. The Leuven round needs to be done this week.

3. CALL TO ALL DJs – Some of you might have heard that we’re organising a photography exhibition in April (more info soon to follow), during artbrussels. As such, we’ll also be throwing a party on 24th April 2010, which is the closing weekend of artbrussels. Thus, our call to all DJs to send us examples of their tastes in the shape of a 1/2 hour mix. Those DJs we fall for will be invited to play our party. Mixes should be sent to n.lewis@thewordmagazine.be before Sunday 14th February 2010.

4. INTERN NEEDED – As part of the photography exhibition we’re organising in April, we’re looking for an art history/curating/events student to intern with us on a full-time basis from 15th February to 30th April. Your responsibilities will vary: everything from liasing with our many sponsors to driving the communications push and assisting the curator in implementing her artistic direction. Applications (CV + covering letter) should be sent to h.judah@thewordmagazine.be before Friday 12th February 2010.

5. SOME MORE MORNING AFTER POSTS – We still owe you at least three posts following January’s Morning After Issue: a round-up of some of our favourite Sunday morning tracks, a test (together with Alex from on-point) of some legal drug that’s been worrying members of parliament from Berlin to Barcelona and back, and an illustrated game (and visually-enacted rule book) created by Felicie. They’re there, ready to be published, we just need to bring a couple of finishing touches to them (been a while since we last skinned up) and then we’re a go. Look out for them this week and during the course of next week.

6. CONCERT TICKETS TO WIN -  We still have a pair of tickets to the Menahan Street Band playing Het Depot on 13th February 2010. First reader to email wewrite@thewordmagazine.be with Menahan Street Band specified in the title box will be on the concert’s guest list.

7. TWITTER FOLLOWING – We know Belgium’s been slow on the Twitter uptake, so we wanted to do our part. As well as ourselves (@NicholasTheWord), here are a couple of local cats worth following: @karenVG83 (for fashion and geekiness), @on_point (for culture, music and video), @plmd (mainly for graphic design and some laughter), @Kunstart (for local culture updates), @Knotoryus (for music and culture) and @LaidBackRadio (also for music and culture as well as the best online radio online). For the novices out there, trend a topic by adding a hashtag (#) in front of it. Ours, for example, is #thewordmagazine (add it in all tweets concerning the magazine). @on-point’s hashtag of choice is #imjustsaying (one we plan on pushing too). We’re just saying (Belgian) people, get with it and follow.

And that’s our Monday morning bit of news. A lovely week to all of you…

Sent by the ever-so-thoughtful Kiehls, the box ensures we’ll never have to set foot in a beauty store again. It packs Kiehl’s Imperial Body Palm, a limited edition Creme de Corps (with a Kaws-designed label), its Ultimate Strength Hand Salve, its Lip Balm No1 as well as some Kusmi Tea. A mouthful of treats…

Can you beat it?

Photography Veerle Frissen in our back garden

Christien Meindertsma’s project to discover all the products made from a single pig (the titular 05049) ended up taking her 3 years, and included such unexpected products as wine, carbonless paper, zinc, medicine capsules, paint, cigarettes, toothpaste, heart valves and train brakes. The products were all exhibited at an installation in Rotterdam last year; for the book she has photographed them all on a 1:1 scale.

This is both a beautifully produced object (we particularly love the stud on the cover) and a very revealing piece of research; it totally chimed with our fondness for great graphic design and restless inquiry into the peculiar workings of the modern world.

Many thanks to Lisbeth Juul of the INDEX awards who very sweetly gave us a copy of PIG 05049, which won INDEX’s  Play category.

The book is available via Amazon.com. A limited edition of 50 have also been produced with pigskin covers and photo of Pig 05049.

The catalogue’s inside goes further yet in its art direction’s simplicity, with the paper stock’s alternating colour, a seemingly fluorescent Orange used for intros and, our favourite, imposing red dots rather daringly “dropped” onto several photographs.

A gem we wished we’d get more off…