As in New York, the Independent art fair's Brussels edition looked to complement the city's buzzing art scene, strategically choosing the week(end) of Art Brussels for the inaugural iteration of its trademark fair model on European soil.
The team chanced upon the 50,000 sq ft Vanderborght building, a former department store in the heart of the city. 'We had the extraordinary fortune of this amazing space, right in the centre, with a wonderful architecture that’s almost perfect for presenting art,' explains creative advisor Matthew Higgs about the six-floor structure, replete with a glass façade and glass-walled atrium that allowed natural light to emphasise the building’s transparencies.
On the ground floor, the progressive concept became immediately clear: New York powerhouse David Zwirner rubbed shoulders with the not-for-profit White Columns, who in turn neighboured with Delmes & Zander, a gallery based in Cologne and Berlin that focuses on outsider art. 'What’s important to us is that every kind of gallery is represented,' notes Higgs. 'We make sure there is no hierarchy – a wealthy gallery doesn’t take precedence over a smaller project. At a lot of fairs, the younger galleries are all together; the blue chip galleries are all together. We’re interested in trying to dissolve that.'
It made for a diverse viewing experience that, after getting a sense of the set-up, was conducive to discussions on transitions and juxtapositions. Carlier | Gebauer placed Laure Prouvost’s monochrome slogan paintings together with Tarik Kiswanson's fine sculptures, creating a tension between dark, heavy words and lightweight steel. Elsewhere, Kasper Bosmans’ wayward work in media ranging from silver-plated bronze to gouache and pencil in wood, showcased his unfettered ability to create at Marc Foxx Gallery.
'You get really interesting dialogues between individual artworks, which you wouldn’t with a more conventionally structured fair,' Higgs concludes. 'There has been a great response. Hopefully it’s a dialogue that will continue.'
Beginning at the end of Art Brussels, Independent looked to complement the city's buzzing art scene. Pictured: Gladstone Gallery
The exhibition is being held at a former department store with over 50,000 sq ft of space. Pictured: installation view
'We had the extraordinary fortune of this amazing space, right in the centre, with a wonderful architecture that’s almost perfect for presenting art,' says creative advisor Matthew Higgs about the six-floor structure. Pictured: installation view
The glass-walled atrium allows natural light to emphasise the building’s transparencies. Pictured: Jocelyn Wolff at Cahn International
For Matthew Higgs, it is important that all kinds of galleries are represented. Pictured: Truth and Consequences
At Independent, there is no hierarchy when placing each project in the gallery. Pictured: Wilfried Lentz and Peres Projects
'At a lot of fairs, the younger galleries are all together; the blue chip galleries are all together. We’re interested in trying to dissolve that,' Higgs explains. Pictured: Gavin Brown's enterprise
The range of work on display made for a diverse viewing experience. Pictured: Carlier | Gebauer
The exhibition focused on juxtaposing several works of art. Pictured: Marc Foxx Gallery and Carlier | Gebauer
The set-up of each room was conducive to discussions on transitions in the pieces of art. Pictured: Galerie Meyer Kainer
There was a range of mediums and textures featured in each exhibition space. Pictured: Tel Aviv's Dvir Gallery
'You get really interesting dialogues between individual artworks, which you wouldn’t with a more conventionally structured fair,' Higgs explains. Pictured: Triangle Books' offering
'There has been a great response. Hopefully it’s a dialogue that will continue,' Higgs concludes. Pictured: Galerie Christophe Gaillard and Ludion gallery
INFORMATION
Independent Brussels is on view until 28 May. For more information, visit the Independent website
Photography: Isabelle Arthuis. Courtesy Independent
ADDRESS
Vanderborght building
Schildknaapstraat 50
Rue de l’Ecuyer
1000 Brussels