Brussels by Night

Allemaal lichtjes ;-)

Léon Spilliaert (KMSKB/KBR, Brussels, 13-1-2007)

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Other

Another great Belgian artist! Another one? Yes another one! I'm beginning to think there's something in the air or the water here. I do hope it's not in the vegetables because I still dislike Belgian endive and Brussels sprouts ;-p


Léon Spilliaert (1881-1946) has made a world of his own in his art. His work is haunting, melancholical, dark but also colourful, simple, clear, funny.
He just did his thing, not really following any trends, and he was very good at that.
I love his world and judging from the amount of people at the exhibit yesterday a lot of people appreciate it. I guess there is something to like in his work for a very diverse group of people so go check it out!


This picture is called "Vertigo" =>


This exhibit is still running until February the fourth (the exhibit of his drawings in the Royal Library will not be open on sunday by the way!).
For more information: http://www.fine-arts-museum.be/ and http://www.kbr.be/
There's also a great catalog so you can always buy that if you cannot see the exhibit ;-)

Ricardo Brey / SMAK (Gent, 7-1-2007)

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Other

Another exhibit that has ended by now but the museum is still there ;-)
The SMAK is always worth a visit because there are always several contemporary art exhibits and they are usually fun to watch.

Besides Ricardo Brey there was this time for instance an interesting exhibit about some Finnish artists. And they always so some "young" artists works too which is always quite refreshing.

As the exhibits have ended here is a site to check out some of the art of Ricardo Brey: http://www1.uol.com.br/bienal/23bienal/universa/iualrb.htm
I love his work a lot so check it out!

Stanley Kubrick exhibit (Gent, 7-1-2007)

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Other

Ok the exhibit has ended by now but as it was an international European exhibit it might still go to another city or country so some people here might still have a chance to see it!
And anyway: it's about movies and you can still watch those at home right?

Stanley Kubrick actually didn't make that many movies in his life but almost all of them are extremely famous and well worth watching too.
A great thing about the exhibit is that you got to see some of his early photo-work and learned a bit more about the man himself that way.

So what movies are we talking about? Apart from some short-films and unfinished projects here's a to watch list for you:

- Fear and Desire (1953)
- Killers Kiss (1955)
- The Killing (1956)
- Paths of Glory (1957)
(I still have to see these too!)

- Spartacus (1960) (I have seen it; quite spectacular!)
- Lolita (1962) (playing in the cinema here quite soon!)
- Dr. Strangelove (1964) (we have the dvd but still need to see it)
- 2001: A space Odyssey (1968) (now that's a classic!)
- A Clockwork Orange (1971) (and some music will never sound the same...)
- Barry Lyndon (1975) (not yet seen it)
- The Shining (1980) (Here's Johnny!)
- Full Metal Jacket (1987) (not yet seen it)
- Eyes Wide Shut (1999) (we have the video, still need to watch it)

The picture is from The Shining by the way ;-)

Wishing You More Magical Moments in 2007

 The scores for 2006:

We've seen at least 85 movies. Highlights on dvd include: "Schultze gets the Blues" , "Calvaire", "Dear Wendy" and "Manderlay". Highlights on tv include: "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" and "The story of the weeping camel". Highlights in the cinema were "Pan's Labyrinth" and "Perfume".

We've seen many series on tv including Prison Break, Big Love, Desperate Housewives, Bones... and even more interesting documentaries on historical subjects or about animals.

We've been to at least 94 different exhibits and museums. You can read about the highlights in my reviews ;-)

We've seen at least 49 bands/artists perform live. Highlights include Iggy Pop, Bauhaus, Editors, Tool (twice!), Sigur Ros and Blood on the Wall (I'm listening to their cd now).

I've read loads and loads of books, comics and graphic novels.

We've eaten in several nice restaurants and pubs; we've seen some interesting street theatre with fire and freak shows; we've been to the zoo a few times; we've seen two processions and many many churches....

Hopefully this year will be at least as good! And I hope I get to have a real vacation too this year because I haven't had that in 2006 ;-)