With summer finally here, and vacation on our minds, you may want to spare a few days for a stay in Belgium, and visits these quite unique exhibitions that are currently on…
In the Foundation Raymond Leblanc, Avenue Paul-Henri Spaak,7 in Brussels, a small but very nice exhibition tells of René Goscinny’s years in Brussels, from 1955 until 1961, and the work he did for Tintin Magazine and the Belvision animation studios. Somehow the genius that would later found Pilote Magazine in France, and would write two of the most important Franco-belgian comics (Astérix and Lucky Luke) is already clearly present here. Until September 29th.
The Atomium, a marvellous sight in its own right, is host to two exhibitions that center around its influential and intriguing silhouette, and the influence of the Atom style on comics. The first one, curated by Paul Gravett, tries to sketch the clear line that runs through the works of André Franquin to Yves Chaland, via Jijé, Tillieux, Will, Jidéhem, Joost Swarte, Ever Meulen, Serge Clerc and Daniel Torres, and aims at defining that dominant element that can be called, the Atom Style. In a second exhibition, fourteen cartoonists celebrate the Atomium and Expo 58. This show features works by François Avril, Ted Benoit, Philippe Berthet, Dupuy&Berberian, Ever Meulen, Floc’h, François Schuiten, Joost Swarte and others. Until September 20th.
(pic from the inside of the Marc Sleen Museum, (c) Marc Sleen Foundation)
In the Rue de Sable, across the road from the CBBD (the Belgian Comics Centre), the Sleen Foundation recently opened its doors to the public. This foundation aims at cataloguing and studying the immense body of work that Marc Sleen created during his long life as one of the most prolific cartoonists in the world. Even though he’s virtually unknown beyond Flanders, his popular strand of humor will doubtlessly appeal to anyone who’s even remotely interested in comics. A general introductory exhibition on Sleen’s life and work can be visited throughout the rest of the year.
Another founding father of the Flemish comic book, Willy Vandersteen, is the subject of two separate exhibitions. In the Brussels Town Hall, Dutch cartoonist and illustrator Joost Swarte curated a show about Vandersteen’s work for Tintin Magazine. When Hergé didn’t like Vandersteen’s quite populist style, he tried to emulate and gentrify his work. The result was the “Blue series”, seven stories that are considered to be among his best, and which can easily be compared to the best work of the likes of De Moor or Jacobs. A general introduction to the “Brueghel of Flemish comics”, as Vandersteen was affectionally known, can be enjoyed in the Maison de la Bande Dessinée, where a quite nice selection of original work from his various series has been compiled. Until November 15th.
And for those who are willing to leave Brussels, the Musée Rops, Rue Fumal 12 in Namur is host to the exhibition, “Wilhelm Busch, from caricature to comic”, showcasing a selection of highlights from the Wilelm Busch Museum in Hannover, Germany. This German artist is widely acknowledged as one of the founding fathers of the European comic, and gained worldwide recognition with Max Und Moritz (which the US papers quickly turned into the Katzenjammer kids). Since Busch usually threw away his drawings after they had been published, the show is predominantly made up out of original printings of his colored art, but the curators alzo managed to include original drawings, preliminary sketches and af ew of Busch’s paintings. Until August 30th.
Wim Lockefeer is trying to persuade the Belgian Tourist Board to sponsor him driving around the country in an old Routemaster bus stuffed with a mobile comics exhibit and singing “Summer Holiday” as he goes; you can read more from Wim on his Ephemerist blog.
Mon, Jul 6, 2009
Comics and cartoons, Conventions and events, From our Continental Correspondent