I missed it last Monday, but imagine taking a morning train and being treated to the sound of Music at Antwerp’s central station. The 200 dancers were promoting the Dutch TV version of “in search of Maria“, a BBC format, staged by the Belgian commercial VTM network.
During these cold Belgian winter months browsing through my summer vacation photos and videos often makes me discover a rare gem, one that I’d overlooked while processing over 1,000 shots and numerous videos. You may recall that I spent September of 2008 in and around Bodrum, Turkey, the undisputed crown of the Turkish Riviera, harboring expensive yachts, an upscale local (sometimes topless) beach clientèle, along with a most amusing mix of Muslim traditions with Turkish everyday commercial reality, anno 2008.
[My video:] Don’t you love the way these enterprising Turks know what really counts ? I couldn’t help but smile at this Bodrum cartoon artist, totally ignoring the Muslim invitation to start praying emanating from the Mosque behind him. He kept on drawing his hilarious but provocative cartoons, admired by tourists. Business first, just like in my friendly local Turkish corner shop.
Several members of the EU council expressed outrage today over a provocative artwork currently on display at the Justus Lipsius building (Schuman Square, Brussels). The Czech republic (currently presiding) “unknowingly” installed a “work of art” by David Cerny from Prague, labeled “Entropa“, focusing on prejudices and shallow jokes often made about member countries. France was depicted with a “grève” (”Strike”) banner, Holland was shown submerged with only the tops of flooded Muslim minarets still visible, with Belgium represented by an almost empty box of chocolates. Bulgaria (represented by disgusting looking French toilets) already filed a formal complaint. Did the Czech artist cross a line that never should have been crossed? [Image credit: all newswires ]
I’ve always cultivated a healthy “show me the merchandise” attitude towards people/bloggers who claim to be “artists”. Sure, some artworks can almost bring tears to my eyes, while other wannabes are only a legend in their own minds. Quite often there’s nothing but a thin line between a true budding artist and the online (yawn) dabbling of self-acclaimed blog stars, surrounding themselves with a dedicated but basically clueless “oh, that is amaaaazin” hardcore base of comment groupies who will cry “masterpiece!” at any triviality posted.
But it can get worse. CNews Canada reports that the much acclaimed Antwerp artist Jan Fabre “Spring is on its way” exhibit at Antwerp’s MuHKA museum of contemporary art is causing more than a stir, it’s actually emitting a real foul smell that makes paying visitors almost vomit on the spot. [Image Courtesy Antwerp modern art museum]
Quote: “ANTWERP, Belgium – Belgian conceptual artist Jan Fabre is creating another big stink in the art world. And more than a few museum-goers are expressing their distaste after touring Fabre’s “Spring is on its way” exhibit at Antwerp’s MuHKA museum of contemporary art. It consists of onions and potatoes hung from the ceiling in condoms and the vegetables are, well, spoiling.
Museum spokeswoman Kathleen Weyts defends the exhibit, saying that like many of his works, Fabre’s latest effort is “about transformation and metamorphosis.” But the local media reports that many visitors, not to mention museum guards, are protesting the smelly display, which has now become the talk of the town.”
So next time someone posts an “artwork”, make sure to smell the merchandise before you comment “great!” 
Transvestites, eh, art in front of the Antwerp Hilton last Sunday. Don’t blame me [please click to enlarge]
Twenty stages with top art performers across town, and these grrrls managed to outshine them all. Weird, isn’t it?
US WW-II war vehicles, (elderly) boobs and a dead whale: I’m not kidding you: I passed them by on route to the leisurely Antwerp leftbank open-air pool and beach today. My camera was where it should not have been (at home), so all I can offer are these low-resolution cell-phone shots. It was all just too weird though: sunbathing 70 yo topless ladies, chatting with decorated WWII veterans while an art-crew removed a fake dead whale from Antwerp beach, a piece of work intended as a teaser for today’s 2008 art festival [Dutch] weekend. The boob-shots came out kind of blurry, but rest assured: I enjoyed the pool [Images: just click to enlarge]
Notwithstanding some unsettled and mostly wet weather, the passed few days in Antwerp have seen a deluge of music festivals, major sportive events and, more blog-worthy, a number of historic fairs and festivals that left me with 500 pictures. Friday August 15th is a public holiday over here (the Catholic feast of Assumption is celebrated in many W-European countries) but Antwerp adds a local touch with the open-air “Rubens market“: that one day a year when this town turns back the clock to the 1600 epoch, at least, dress-wise. I recall buying a ‘made in China’ novelty item last year, assisted by a sales person dressed up like she walked out of a Rubens painting.
Last weekend saw medieval crossbow shooting, facing mobile, four floor high historic statues in front of city hall, while yesterday night a torch-lit parade with numerous Rubens-era lookalikes ( the city’s most famous 17th century resident and painter) passed through the medieval part of downtown Antwerp. Please click to enlarge and get more background details on these first pictures.
[Given this post does not include "boobs", "iPhones" or "sex with animals", I know only true culture lovers will read it "]
It’s been done before, but I actually enjoyed this YouTube movie. By the way, can the Swedish reader who repeatedly mailed me the poorly written message below please stop trying to get in touch again? I read your message over and over, and somehow I hate to break the news to you, but you do need appropriate medical care. And PLEASE, stop mailing me countless naked pictures of yourself, I’ve got all I need 
“If you are not able to communicate, the way of your existence will suffer serious damage. you will be limited by your self in strange way to obtain part in your community. to learn essential way of including people, to pretend to accept and not to demand,is opening social way of mutual understanding. people who pretend to limit space for other people,by demanding or claim anything. to be your self is not excluding to show mutual respect to others,and accept the diversity.
The truth is naked. to keep someone in power you need to persuade him to wear your cloths,uniform of your believes. and who say that the pure heart forced with dimension of love, tenderness and honesty should have double jacket and burka?and who claims that genuity has no sex, no erection and no joy?
If you on the base of your culture,religion, social structure of your person,expirience and life have trouble with my nudity,wich is just a simple form to expresse my freedom, and if you have problem with erotic and may say pornographic elements i appologize. to be nude is natural way of being one with the nature.to desire is the important part of human need,and sign that you are open to the future, cause you expect much to happen”
If you happen to live in an historic area of a major European city, street artists are probably a common sight.
The area surrounding Antwerp cathedral does pull a rather unusual variety though: artists who go to great lengths trying to become a living copy of the countless statues that have graced this medieval part of town for centuries.
Most use body paint to blend in, but this rather uncommon couple made every effort to stand out.
Airbrushed in gold, they did not try to evoke yet another historic scene, but seemed quite satisfied to portray a tale of unconditional love.
While I just loved the concept of their act, I’ve had my share of street artists in front of my home door.
Imagine carrying partly torn grocery bags on your way home, only to find out that yet another busload of videotaping Japanese tourists is blocking your way passed the cathedral, giving you a determined “no pasaran” look. Having learned from passed experiences, I usually just go with the flow, blend in and start taking snapshots myself. I wonder, how often do you feel like you’re living in an amusement park?
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