Brussels street impressions II

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Some images taken last month during a short visit to the always interesting, inspiring, surreal Brussels.

Roberto Voorbij –  Les Marolles (2013).

Roberto Voorbij –  Law Courts of Brussels (2013).

Roberto Voorbij – Belgian Pride, Golden Boy (2013).

Roberto Voorbij – Paused (2013).

Roberto Voorbij – Home for the blind (2013).

Roberto Voorbij – Le Mouvement National Royaliste A Ses Morts Tombes Ici Pour La Patrie (2013).

Roberto Voorbij –  Who saves one life saves the whole world (2013).

Roberto Voorbij –  Magritte Museum (2013).

Roberto Voorbij – Artist Unknown – Street Art, Brussels (2013).

Hacking IKEA 2013 – ÄNNE, Bookcase Door, white

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It looks like in the Netherlands undocumented residency is about to become equivalent to a criminal act. Despite asylum seekers who have been denied asylum are not to blame – fleeing your home country is not something you do for fun – are they eventually being punished for the simple fact of just being present in the Netherlands, treated as a criminal, “illegally” staying in our country may result in a maximum fine of € 7,800 or a maximum prison term of six months. However, the public opinion is dead silent, totally passive…

Roberto Voorbij – Hacking IKEA 2013 – ÄNNE, Bookcase Door, white (2013).

Dan Perjovschi’s political drawings at ‘Sorry we’re closed’

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Dan Perjovschi at ‘Sorry we’re closed’

Dan Perjovschi at ‘Sorry we’re closed’

Dan Perjovschi at ‘Sorry we’re closed’

Dan Perjovschi at ‘Sorry we’re closed’

Dan Perjovschi at ‘Sorry we’re closed’

Dan Perjovschi at ‘Sorry we’re closed’

Dan Perjovschi at ‘Sorry we’re closed’

Dan Perjovschi at ‘Sorry we’re closed’

Dan Perjovschi at ‘Sorry we’re closed’

SYMBIOSIS: a French / Dutch Art Festival

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At the Breda City Gallery can from Wednesday, May 15 the French / Dutch group exhibit SYMBIOSIS be visited. French artists give their personal view on Dutch culture and vice versa. A wonderful exhibit that offers a wide range of artists. Besides names like Shirley Welten, Justyna Pennards, Hennie Polman, and Grand Foulard, I’m also one of the participants with the work ‘Paris Blood’. Providing Dutch angles and Parisian perspectives SYMBIOSIS is part of the art festival / festival d’art of the same title and runs until May 26.

“Two weeks of art, literature, music and lectures in the heart of Breda.”

For the full program go to grandfoulard.com/symbiose2013.html

Hennie Polman – Astray (2011).

Grand Foulard – Empty (2009).

Shirley Welten – Bed Paris (2002 -2004).

Mariette van der Meer – Ascenseur pour l’échafaud (2012).

Sophie Verburgh – The Thinker (2012).

Emanuela Slanzi – Shapeshifting (2011).

Roberto Voorbij – Paris Blood (2013).

Royal Dutch Shell

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Oil painting by Dutch artist Rutger Floor. Depicting Beatrix, Queen of the Netherlands, versus the logo of Royal Dutch Shell. The form resemblance is striking, endless are the overlaps between both. Both symbols of power, both icons of propaganda / marketing, even a religious connotation is not far away in each of the two cases, the haircut of Beatrix as aureole, the used scallop shell symbol of the pilgrim. What makes this dissection of ‘orange’ as well topical are the several links between the Royal Family and the oil company. Although the members of the Royal Family do not pay income or property tax they probably do possess a large amount of Shell shares. Even if it would be just one percent of the group, this would make them multimillionaire by far …

Rutger Floor – Royal Dutch Shell (2013). Oil on canvas, 70 x 140 cm.

Screen-Free Week 2013

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Screen-Free Week / a.k.a. Digital Detox Week – ‘Turn off screens and turn on life’.

April 29 – May 5, 2013.

Rembrandt van Gogh

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Rembrandt van Gogh or Vincent van Rijn, a collage by Amsterdam graphic designer Jeroen Huijbregts. This perfect symbiosis of Van Rijn and Van Gogh goes beyond just a physical analogy. Vincent van Gogh adored Rembrandt. For that matter, it is certainly possible that this specific portrait of Rembrandt, served as an inspiration for Van Gogh…

Jeroen Huijbregts – Rembrandt van Gogh (2013).