'Be modern', contemporary art that challenges the crisis of the sector in Brussels
A work of vivid colors and geometric shapes that evokes the plenary hall of the European Council -both signed by the Belgian painter Georges Meurant-, welcomes visitors to the exhibition 'Be Modern', in Brussels, which aims to reflect the diversity of contemporary art and challenge the unprecedented situation facing the cultural world.
Although it looks like abstract geometric art, "the pattern of the painting refers to a type of African textile," Pierre-Yves Desaive, the curator of Contemporary Arts of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, explains to Efe about the piece by Meurant that , as he assures, in the whole exhibition it is a nod to the capital of the European Union.
The Belgian's is one of the approximately 150 works from 'Be Modern' that claim to "show how artists of the early twentieth century began to break free from established rules for the more classic ways of painting, "explains Desaive." Considering what happened in March, we had to cancel many exhibition projects that we had and we say that it was the right time to show how rich our collection of contemporary and modern art is. " adds the curator.
Some of the works in this collection appeal to stories of "political and tragic events"As with the work "Je suis un rebelle" ("I am a rebel") by the Congolese Chéri Samba: "It is very important to have this type of artist in the collection," says Desaive.
This tour addresses a multitude of contemporary issues, such as the ethics of surveillance by the authorities, and does so through a set of modified screens showing real pictures of pedestrians recorded by a camera, but which are only visible thanks to a filter. This last work, which the curator defines as "technological art", as in the case of "art on video", poses a challenge in terms of its conservation and maintenance, although, according to Desaive, in a collection such as Be Modern, it is It is essential "to also send a reflection on this type of art", he adds.
The human figure, as it is being interpreted from the beginning of the 20th century to the present, explains Desaive, is another of the key parts of the exhibition that can be appreciated through different styles, such as a peculiar portrait of a 'Pope with Owls' by the Irish artist Francis Bacon. Paul Klee, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Hans Arp, Josef Albers or Lucio Fontana, are some of the artists who complete the Be Modern roster.
Art and covid
One of the most striking stops on this journey through contemporary art reflects our most recent historical moment: that of the pandemic. Under the title 'Inside-Out' and as "a bet in which, in some way, everything is related to the covid", according to the curator, a set of works that were part of the initiative was added to the collection ' Art cares about covid ', and that brings together pieces by visual artists who look at the world in very different ways but from the same point of view: that of the pandemic.
This last part is also conceived as a way to give a boost to Belgian artists of different generations who are facing a serious crisis in the sector with gallery closures and no exhibitions. In fact, all the pieces are for sale, something that is not "usual" in this museum, in the words of the curator.
Survive the pandemic
However, the effects of the COVID have not only shaken small artists like those they support, but also large centers such as the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium: "Three weeks after opening the exhibition we had to close", explains the curator.
"Imagine what it means to create an exhibition without seeing the works," laments Desaive, who admits that creating the architecture of the exhibition was a challenge they worked on "for many months under very harsh conditions."
Desaive assures that they lost 75% of the visitors, but faces the future with optimism: "We have seen now that we are open again that many people want to come, and we hope that the public keeps coming", Add.
