All Things Food, Art & Culture : Brussels
Art Brussels is on the corner, so here are some highlights...
Art Brussels 2023 is this coming week, and I thought I would highlight the city’s museums, galleries and, of course, restaurants. Founded in 1968, Art Brussels is one of Europe's most renowned contemporary art fairs and a must-see in the international art calendar with an exciting programme of events. Art Brussels art fair represents a unique opportunity to discover the richness of the artistic and cultural scene of the European capital. The fair has attracted many collectors, gallerists, curators, art professionals and lovers worldwide.
Brussels, the capital of Belgium, is a vibrant and diverse city with a rich art and culture scene. The city is home to traditional and contemporary art, architecture, music, and performing arts.
Some notable aspects of Brussels' art and culture scene include:
Art Nouveau architecture: Brussels is famous for its Art Nouveau architecture, which flourished during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Victor Horta and Paul Hankar are two prominent architects from this period. Must-see buildings include Horta Museum, Hotel Tassel, and Hotel Solvay. These mentioned buildings are typical of Art Nouveau at their height. Most of the interior decoration has primarily been retained, the mosaics, stained glass, and wall decorations forming a harmonious and elegant whole, down to the last detail.
Museums and galleries: The city is home to numerous museums and galleries. The Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, which include the Old Masters Museum, the Magritte Museum, and the Museum of Modern Art, showcase a vast collection of works from different periods. The city has a vibrant contemporary art scene, with numerous galleries and creative spaces such as Wiels Contemporary Art Centre, BOZAR Centre for Fine Arts, and MIMA (Millennium Iconoclast Museum of Art).
Brussels has many artists to thank for its status as a haven of surrealism. Still, the Belgian name that will forever conjure up faceless, bowler-hatted figures and pipes that aren’t pipes in the mind of the art admirer is René Magritte, who was born and raised in the capital. The city has dedicated the renovated neoclassical Altenloh Hotel to showcasing over 200 pieces by its premier surrealist champion, the most extensive collection of Magritte paintings worldwide. Works like The Treasure, The Return, and The Empire of Lights drive home the artist’s fondness for toying with perceptions, and fans harbouring a deep Magritte love might consider turning this into a double bill by squeezing in an additional visit to his former modest home in the Jette neighbourhood, now a museum dedicated to the lesser-known sides of the surrealist’s life and work.
From Rubens’ larger-than-life religious canvasses to Pieter Bruegel the Elder’s vibrant parables and snowy landscapes, the Old Masters Museum – the Magritte Museum’s neighbour on the aptly named Mont des Arts – sets forth to illustrate the cultural prestige the old Netherlandish artists brought to the Low Countries. Wandering through its spacious marbled halls and taking in three centuries of painting splendour should leave the art lover in high spirits.
A fresh face intent on shaking up Brussels’ somewhat dusty museum scene (the capital still has no contemporary art museum to speak of), the MIMA, or Millenium Iconoclast Museum of Art, opened in 2016 by handing over its setting in an old industrial brewery, basement and all, to renowned street art creatives such as Swoon and MOMO. The project by the Belgian Alice van den Abeele and her three co-founders on the canalside of the much-discussed Brussels neighbourhood of Molenbeek has since received praise for its focus on what they’ve dubbed “Culture 2.0.”
Street art and comic murals: Brussels has a thriving street art scene, with many walls adorned by vibrant murals. The city is also known for its comic strip heritage, being the birthplace of famous comic characters such as Tintin and The Smurfs. The Comic Strip Route is a walking tour that takes you past over 50 murals depicting these beloved characters.
Places to go for delicious food and wine:
If you love food sharing and naturally produced organic wine, ÖTAP is the place! For great coffee and scrumptious toasties, you can go to Kami. Café Belga is a classic cocktail staple- my dear friend Inês highly recommends the Basil Smash!
If you have more to spend and want fine dining, you can check out this stylish contemporary brasserie called Lola, located in one of the most beautiful neighbourhoods in Brussels. All the flavours and aromas of rich Italian, particularly Sicilian, culinary traditions are showcased at Senzanome which holds one Michelin star. The Comptoir des Galeries restaurant is on the corner of the Galerie du Roi and the Rue des Bouchers, a stone’s throw from the Grand Place. Here you can enjoy local specialities and refined dishes while enjoying a glass of wine from the extensive wine list.
I hope you enjoy this list!