What's on this week: 13 November
Experimental rock groups, Indian writers and cliché-busting exhibitions: our top pick of events across Flanders and Brussels
Concert: Karim Baggili
On his latest CD, Kali City, Baggili gets even closer to his Arabic roots, aiming above all to evoke the festive atmosphere of family gatherings from North Africa to the Near East. He is joined on stage by his five-piece band, comprised of Moroccan, Lebanese and Belgian musicians who play loads of traditional instruments like the oud, the ney and the kawala (not to be confused with its Australian homophone).
15 November, 20.00 │ Molière, Brussels
www.muziekpublique.be
Visual arts: Kaat Marchau
Flemish painter Kaat Marchau doesn’t subscribe to the cliché that the eyes are windows to the soul. Her exhibition Silent Eyes, Speaking Language meditates on the monotony of that most romanticised of organs. The eyes of the women in her Cubist-inspired portraits are flat, black and standardised. It’s a challenge for both artist and viewer; the emotive power of these canvases must come from elsewhere. Different gestures, contexts, techniques and colours produce the range of effects that another artist might elicit through tried-and-tested signs: a tear in the eye or a bat of the eyelash. The result is an art that straddles the line between figurative and abstract, with the familiar image of the human face made alien then humanised again through gestalt.
Until 23 November │ Galerie Ludwig Trossaert, Antwerp
www.galerieludwigtrossaert.com
Fetsival: Crossing Border
For two full decades, The Hague’s Crossing Border Festival has been blending literature and music into one harmonious whole. True to its name, the Dutch festival crossed the border into Flanders some years ago to establish an Antwerp edition. Writers, poets, musicians, artists and filmmakers from around the world are invited to participate in this all-day celebration of artistic cross-pollination. This year’s music headliner is Aidan Moffat, singer of ’90s-era Scottish indie group Arab Strap. London-based experimental rock group These New Puritans are also on the bill (pictured). Among the 16 international literary invitees are Australian novelist Deborah Levy, Spanish writer Jesús Carrasco and Pulitzer prize-winning American author Richard Russo.
17 November │ Arenberg, Antwerp
www.crossingborder.be
Literature: Three Indian Writers
The biennale Europalia India rolls on with an evening dedicated to contemporary literature from the subcontinent, represented in the flesh by three distinguished writers. Vikas Swarup’s 2005 novel Q&A was adapted for the silver screen under the title Slumdog Millionaire, earning him a heap of awards and a worldwide audience. Joining him are Delhi journalist Manu Joseph (currently writer-in-residence at Brussels’ Passa Porta) and poet, songwriter and novelist Jeet Thayil (pictured), whose recent work Narcopolis has been compared to William Burrough’s strung-out odyssey Naked Lunch. The trio read from and discuss their work in English with a panel of Flemish journalists.
20 November, 20.00 │ Bozar, Brussels
www.bozar.be
More events that deserve your attention
Heiligen op de broodplank (Saints on the Breadboard): An exhibition on the remarkable stories of various saints, each with their own special bond with bread or pastries. Think of Saint Aubert, the patron saint of bakers, Saint Nicholas and his speculoos and Saint Hubertus bread
Until 21 March at Bakkerijmuseum, Albert I-laan 2
www.bakkerijmuseum.be
Night of the Proms: One of Europe’s biggest indoor music events combining classical music and pop, this year featuring Haitian-American rapper Wyclef Jean, Cuban-American singer Gloria Estefan, Scottish singer-songwriter Amy Macdonald and English rock musician John Miles, among others
Until 16 November at Sportpaleis, Schijnpoortweg 119
www.notp.com/belgie
Libelle Winterfair: Cosy Christmas fair hosted by Flemish magazine Libelle, featuring stands with holiday décor and party items, plus cooking demonstrations by top chefs, creative workshops and entertainment for all ages
14-17 November at Nekkerhal, Nekkerspoel-Borcht
www.tinyurl.com/libellefair
Week van de Smaak (Week of Taste): Annual gastronomic festival with a plethora of activities centred around fine food and drink, this year with a Water and Fire theme that features the Smaakboot, a culinary cruise through Flanders’ channels, a Brussels barbecue competition and numerous brewery visits, chocolate tastings and special menus at restaurants across the region
14-24 November across Brussels and Flanders
www.weekvandesmaak.be
Adegga Wine Market: First-ever event of its kind, featuring top wine producers from across Europe and a unique opportunity to taste rare and old Port wines
16 November 11.00-18.00 at The Hotel, Waterloose Steenweg 38
www.adegga.com
Latin American Film Festival of Flanders: Fifth edition of the festival featuring a selection of features, documentaries, animation and short films, plus concerts, DJ party and more
Until 25 November at UGC Cinema, Van Ertbornstraat 17
www.latinofilmfestival.be
About the author
