What’s on: Ultima Vez revival and romanticism of war
A look at a world without women, the curiosities of battle and the call of the ocean deep top this week’s cultural agenda
In Spite of Wishing and Wanting
Aside from the unique, often acrobatic, interactions that requires dancers to go beyond the norm in terms of trusting each other, the production is made up only of male dancers. Forced to abandon dance coupling tradition, they must establish intimate, primal contact with each other instead. If you’ve never seen it before, do yourself a favour and catch this revival.
24 October to 21 December, across Flanders and Brussels
Men and Boots
From the boots First World War soldiers stole off the feet of their dead comrades to IS fighters’ expensive sneakers, shoes have often been more important to soldiers than food during warfare. This is one of many curious conditions of war offered by Flemish painter Koen Broucke in Manen en laarzen (Men and Boots) at Turnhout’s Taxandria Museum. With the subtitle Extraordinary Apparitions on Turnhout’s Battlefields, the exhibition uses the history of battle in Turnhout as its starting point, exploring the imagery associated with memories of battle. It seems that our imaginations – up to the social media-derived infobits of today – don’t quite mesh with the stark realities of everyday combat.
20 October to 31 January, Taxandria Museum, Begijnenstraat 28, Turnhout
GET TICKETS NOW: Ocean Film Festival
Experience the thrills of the open seas – without the seasickness and saltwater – at the touring Ocean Film Festival. Originating in Australia, the sister event of the equally popular Banff Mountain Film festival sets its sights on inspiring an appreciation and protection of the planet’s oceans. The two-hour evening sees some of the best short ocean-inspired films from around the world. Shot under and on the water, they zoom in on the environment, marine creatures, sports, coastal cultures and lovers of the deep seas. The Brussels stop is already sold out, so it’s advisable to book now for the Flemish tour.
17 November, De Roma, Antwerp; 1 December, Stuk, Leuven; 8 December (final tickets), Parnassus, Ghent
Photo: Danny Willems
