DEBATES in 2008

Saturday 19 April, 11.30 am
Spoken language: English
"Holy Fire: Exhibiting and Collecting New Media Art"

One of the targets of the Holy Fire exhibition (iMAL, 18-30 April) is to take a snapshot of the present situation of New Media Art, an art practice arose from the meeting of art and computer technology in the Sixties. This practice developed into a self-built, parallel art system and had a second youth in the last half of the Nineties. New Media Art has always been described as process oriented, immaterial, and therefore un-collectable and un-preservable. Now getting to its adult age, it is entering the contemporary art world and market.

Moderated by Patrick Lichty (Editor-in-Chief for Intelligent Agent magazine, USA). Guest speakers: Alexei Shulgin (Artist, co-director of Electroboutique, Russia), Olia Lialina (Artist, Russia/Germany), Steve Sacks (Director Bitforms gallery, New York), Wolf Lieser (director DAM, Berlin), Stéphane Maguet (Director Numeriscausa, Paris), Philippe Van Cauteren (Director S.M.A.K, Ghent), Domenico Quaranta (Curator, Milano), Yves Bernard (Curator, director iMAL, Brussels).

Saturday 19 April, 3 pm
Spoken Language: English
Presentation "Brussels Biennal"

From 19th October 2008 onwards, the Brussels Biennial will launch its first edition. It will host numerous contributions from various cutting edge contemporary art institutions in the region. At artbrussels, the Brussels Biennial will cease the moment to present itself to a broad public of art lovers and press representatives. During this conference the Brussels Biennial will clarify its unique structure based on collaboration and unveil its concepts and thematic framework.

Introduction by Barbara Vanderlinden (Artistic Director Brussels Biennial). Guest speakers: Bart De Baere (Director MuHKA, Antwerp), Charles Esche (Director Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven), Maria Hlavajova (Director BAK, Utrecht), Nicolaus Schafhausen (Director Witte de With, Rotterdam), Pierre-Olivier Rollin (Director B.P.S. 22, Charleroi) and Paul Willemsen (Artistic Director Argos, Brussels) .

Saturday 19 april, 5 pm
Spoken Language: English
"Ephemeral Fringes”

This debate will discuss the intention, peculiarity, the meaning or the contribution of artistic interventions in art fairs. “Ephemeral Fringes” the exhibition project of artbrussels 2008 will be considered as case-study. Filip Luyckx, artist director of Sint-Lukasgalerie Brussels (art institute) and curator of “Ephemeral Fringes” will moderate this debate.

Nine artists with a particular view on “artist projects in art fairs” accepted the invitation: Georges Adéagbo, Michael Aerts, Philip Metten, Veronica Brovall, Rainer Ganahl, Fabrice Gygi, Honoré d’O, Nedko Solakov and Koen Vanmechelen.

Amongst the international panel members are Adam Budak (Curator Kunsthaus, Graz and Manifesta 7), Charlotte Laubard (director CAPC Contemporary art museum Bordeaux), Paco Barragan (curator and art critic) and Rainer Ganahl (artist and participant of “Ephemeral Fringes”).

An interesting additional fact is that the debates will literally take place in a site specific art work by Philip Mettten, part of “Ephemeral Fringes”. His purpose was creating a multifunctional art object that responds to practical needs and offers visual and auditive qualities likewise.

Monday 21 April, 2pm
Spoken Language: Dutch
“The conservation and communication of private and public collections”

Moderated by Jef Lambrecht (Journalist). Guest speakers: Mark Vanmoerkerke (Collector), Walter Vanhaerents (Collector), Philippe Van Cauteren (director S.M.A.K., Ghent), Philip Van den Bossche (director PMMK, Ostend), Bart De Baere (director MuHKA, Antwerp), Dirk Snauwaert (director WIELS, Brussels).

CONCERTS in 2008

Thursday, April 17, 8 pm
Quasar Noise Lab

Friday, April 18, 5pm
Eric Thielemans & Sickboy

Monday, April 21, 8 pm
Tim Vanhamel