Art Brussels 2019
On the occasion of the 37th edition of Art Brussels, director Anne Vierstraete tells L’Officiel Art how the fair has evolved through five decades until today.
L’OFFICIEL ART: What is the makeup of this 37th edition of Art Brussels? How has the fair evolved over the last five years in terms of direction and innovation?
ANNE VIERSTRAETE: Beginning with its relocation in 2016 to Tour & Taxis – an emblematic building in the city center – Art Brussels has become more exclusive and has honed its identity by reducing the number of galleries from 200 to 150. Moreover, the fair has redefined its profile by dividing the galleries into three distinct sections: “Discovery,” “Prime” and “Rediscovery,” as well as a sub-section, “Solo.” Over the years, Art Brussels has managed to carve out a place for itself on the “overcrowded” global art scene, while keeping faith with its distinctive character as a discovery fair – with the utmost possible focus on emerging artists – but also with its reputation as a serious marketplace, where art is shown for its intrinsic quality. This April, we are also launching a new section, “Invited.”
What are the characteristics of each section in the fair?
“Discovery” is a highlight of Art Brussels. Since the fair’s relocation to Tour & Taxis, this section on emerging artists has tripled in size, going from 14 galleries in 2015 to 38 in 2019. Galleries in the “Prime” section, 99 in number this year, are generally dedicated to artists in the middle of their careers and with international reputations, whether modern or contemporary. Works rarely seen at other big fairs are selected. Since it opened in 2016, “Rediscovery” (11 galleries in 2019) is similar to “Discovery” in purpose, but with a more historical perspective. It exhibits pieces by important 20th-century artists, living or dead, whose work remains under-appreciated or sadly forgotten. Alongside “Prime” and “Rediscovery” visitors will also find “Solo,” with 23 projects this year. This is a must, as an excellent opportunity to discover an artist or to deepen your knowledge of their work.
A new section, “Invited,” enhances the fair from the standpoint of the art market. What is the model for its galleries?
We created this section with the goal of encouraging a new generation of young galleries with international ambitions that have never before participated in Art Brussels, and in order to open up to non-traditional art spaces. All the participants (9 this year) are invited by the fair, so they do not go through the usual selection process. In addition to the newest Belgian and international galleries, there is also a collaborative art space formed through an association of four galleries geographically spread over different continents (La Maison de Rendez-Vous that opened in Brussels last January), as well as the traveling space Ballon Rouge that organizes exhibitions of artists in various cities, and will soon open a permanent location in Brussels, a pop-up gallery based on the idea that the identity of its temporary exhibition space changes each time, according to the vision of the artist.
How do you locate the fair, and more generally Brussels, in the landscape of the contemporary art market and its ecosystem?
From the outset Art Brussels has played a central role in making the contemporary art scene in Belgium stand out. Since the start of the global craze for contemporary art, the scene in Brussels and in Belgium has developed over the past 50 years and continues to enjoy the benefits of a tradition of collecting in Belgium, the country with the highest percentage of collectors per capita in the world. In terms of what makes the artistic ecosystem of Brussels so special, it is first and foremost the fact that the city has a central location, in the heart of Europe, and is very cosmopolitan and multicultural. The city has the advantage of still having many spaces that can be used as artists’ studios in the center of town, but at prices much more affordable than the going rates in the major capitals. The fact that the city is largely free of institutional and hierarchical structuring means that interactions among different networks and groups within the contemporary scene can take place easily. Centre Pompidou has launched a collaboration with the Kanal Foundation to open a new branch inside an exceptional work of architect in central Brussels. Openness to contemporary art, the desire to make way for new possibilities and a taste for audacity seem to be the characteristics of the territory and history of Belgium that nurture the ever-changing artistic ecosystem of Brussels.
Art Brussels. Tour & Taxis, Brussels. April 25-28.