10 Brussels Guide


Kagyu Lama, Tibet, 13th century, copper alloy, height 17.5 cm, Jacques How Choong


Head of Buddha Shakyamuni, Lan Na, Chieng Saen, Tailand, 15th century, bronze, height 33 cm, Famarte Asian Art


Karasu Tengu by Garaku, netsuke, late 18th century with katabori carving, Kistune Gallery


Tangka of Vajrapani, distemper on cotton, Tibet, 14th century, 33 x 44 cm, Carlo Cristi


CULTURES Brussels


Te collective name of Cultures, Te Worlds Art Fair, brings together the ancient, tribal and Asian art worlds and brings together the three fairs that used to run concurrently for many years in the city. Tis year the event runs from 7 to 11 June in the Sablon district of Brussels with nine dealers who specialises in Asian art offering works from South, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, China, Japan and the Himalayas. Nearly all the galleries can be found in just two streets in the Sablon, an area known for its large number of permanent art galleries, with just two galleries situated very close by. During the week over 60 galleries


are showing alongside specially organised


events. As part of the


lecture series there is a talk by Gilles Beguin on Gods of Tibet: Iconography of Buddhism. Confirmation of times of events and locations, plus up-to- date information can be found on the website – cultures.brussels. Tere is one catalogue for the entire event which has been colour-coded for ease of navigating: Blue (Ancient), red (Tribal), and yellow (Asian). Te Museum of the Far East is


closed, but part of the collection of Chinese


export ceramics are on


display in the Chinese galleries of the Cinquantenaire Museum in Brussels. More information on kmkg-mrah.be. At the Belgian Comic Strip Centre in Brussels,


Chinese Comic Strips, September,


there is A Panorama of until 9


which covers several


genres from calligraphy and traditional illustrated folk stories to Manga-inspired


works. world and More


information on comicscenter.net. At the galleries, Astamangala is


showing works from the Tibetan Buddhist


include


sculptures in wood and bronze, book covers, other ritual objects, as well as furniture, rugs and textiles from Tibet.


ASIAN ART MAY 2018


A highlight is a bronze section of a prabhamandala from the Swat Valley, made during the 8th/9th centuries. At rue Watteeu 21. Te subject of Carlo Cristi’s exhibition is Tibetan Sculptures and Tangkas and Central Asian Art. Among sculptures on show is a gilt bronze vairocana, 14th century, of fine workmanship and remarkable size. Other


highlights include a


thangka of Vajrapani, 14th century, which has retained its brilliant, saturated colours,


Indian stone


sculptures and some rare silver-gold cladded repoussé from the Tibetan empire in Central Asia, 7th/9th centuries. Textiles are represented by a number of Central Asian


silks, 7th-9th silk


hangings made for decoration, Sogdian


century.


Sculptures from the Liao and Mongol period are also on show. At Galerie Champaka, rue Ernest Allard 27. Farah Massart at Famarte Asian


Art specialises in sculptures and ritual objects from India, Southeast Asia and the Himalayas. Tis year she has also created a thematic show on mandalas, considered important objects in tantric rituals where they serve as a guide to the devotee. At rue Ernest Allard 32. Jacques How Choong deals in Chinese and Southeast Asian art, specialising in particular in rare early Buddhist art (Dali Kingdom sculpture),


the


‘Barbarian Kingdoms’ (Dian and Ordos), as well as other archaic works of art. One of the highlights this year is a Tibetan copper alloy statue with inlaid copper and silver details of Kagyu Lama dating to the 13th century. At Rue de Minimes 19. Mingei Arts Gallery, whose


permanent gallery of Japanese art is in Paris, is exhibiting at Galerie Desmet, rue des Minimes 39. A highlight of this year’s show is a wooden sculpture representing hiten,


Hiten sculpture, Heian period, Japan, 12th century, wood, height 39.5 cm, Mingei Arts Gallery


Section from a prabhamandala,


Swat Valley, India, 8th/9th century, height 21 cm, Astamangala


Sixteen-armed avalokitesvara, Nguyen dynasty, 19th century, Vietnam, wood, lacquer and gilding,


height 81 cm, Grusenmeyer- Woliner


a celestial being from the Heian period, 12th century. Hiten (flying apsaras), are heavenly beings invisible to the human eye, believed to fly with superhuman power and speed. Grusenmeyer-Woliner specialises in sculpture, archaeology, jewellery and decorative arts from Southeast Asia, China, and India. Te gallery’s aim is to present an eclectic mix of pieces that reflect all the diverse cultures of Asia and at this year’s exhibition the emphasis is on sculpture with Spirit of Calmness and Serenity, with highlights being a Gandhara torso of a bodhisattva from the 2nd/3rd century, a black stone stele of Vishnu, Pala period, 12th century, from Northeast India, and a 16-armed avalokitesvara from 19th-century Vietnam. At rue des Minimes 17. Arie Vos at the Kitsune Gallery is


devoted to Japanese art reflecting the inner soul of Japan. Te items selected are primarily of native taste; aiming to


embody Japanese culture and its rich tradition through different art forms and exploring the beauty in daily life characterised by a certain simplicity, which is unpretentious and original. Te main


encompasses folk art,


selection of items scholar art,


samurai art and divine art. A highlight is a late 18th-century ivory netsuke by Garaku representing Karasu Tengu in katabori carving. Cracking its way out of its shell, it is carved with well- developed muscles and menacing expression, belying its infant state. At rue des Minimes 5. Other galleries participating are


Galerie Lamy at rue Ernest Allard 23 and Michael Woerner, Architect’s House, rue Ernest Allard 21. • Cultures, Brussels, from 6 to 10 June More information on cultures.brussels and asianartinbrussels.com Opening Hours: 6 June, 3-9 pm, 7 June, 11-7pm, 8 June ,11-8 pm, 9 June, 11-7pm, 10 June, 11-5pm


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24