Europalia presents Rinus Van de Velde: Inner Travels at BOZAR
Works of the Belgian artist go in dialogue with works by his fictitious travelling companions, including Pierre Bonnard, Edvard Munch, Claude Monet, Laure Prouvost, Henri Rousseau, and Thomas Schütte
18 February sees the start of the second part of the EUROPALIA TRAINS & TRACKS festival with the flagship exhibition, Rinus Van de Velde: Inner Travels. For the first time ever, Van de Velde’s work will be shown in all its diversity and placed in dialogue with works by his fictitious travelling companions, who include Pierre Bonnard, Monster Chetwynd, Joan Mitchell, Claude Monet, Laure Prouvost, Henri Rousseau, and Jean Tinguely. A dive into Van de Velde’s practice, culminating in the premiere of his new film, La Ruta Natural.
Imaginary journeys
The train is a symbol of travel: from the everyday journey of the commuter to mythical and imaginary journeys. EUROPALIA TRAINS & TRACKS celebrates all these forms of travel.
The work of Rinus Van de Velde (Leuven, 1983) – who sometimes uses the train as a motif – is born out of imaginary, inner journeys that the artist undertakes each day. Journeys that take place in the strict privacy of his studio. During these journeys, Van de Velde meets numerous other artists, and from these encounters, episodes of his fictional autobiography emerge, forming the common thread running through his work.
Diverse media
On the basis of these imaginary journeys and encounters, the artist creates his own microcosms or miniature worlds, which he elaborates in charcoal or pastel drawings, ceramics, installations, photographs, or films; a multitude of mediums presented together in one large exhibition for the first time. The artist’s work is shown in all its diversity and – also for the first time – exhibited alongside works by fictitious travelling companions such as Pierre Bonnard, Joan Mitchell, Claude Monet, Laure Prouvost, Jean Tinguely, Josephine Troller and Laurie Simmons. The visitor travels with Van de Velde and gains insights into the way his works are created, in particular his film La Ruta Natural shown in premiere.
Performances
The exhibition is further enriched by a series of talks and a performance programme in which Dolores and Charlotte Bouckaert, Monster Chetwynd, Rita Hoofwijk, Gaëtan Rusquet and Damien Petitot bring a broader perspective on the theme of travel and encounters.
Rinus Van de Velde
Inner Travels
18 February - 15 May 2022
BOZAR
A production by EUROPALIA Arts Festival
Curators: Rinus Van de Velde, Julie Verheye (Coordinator Exhibitions EUROPALIA), Dirk Vermaelen (Artistic Director EUROPALIA)
Other artists: Guy Ben-Ner, Pierre Bonnard, Beverly Buchanan, Monster Chetwynd, Joseph Cornell, Marcel Dzama, Fischli/Weiss, Bodys Isek Kingelez, Joan Mitchell, Claude Monet, Edvard Munch, Laure Prouvost, Henri Rousseau, Thomas Schütte, Laurie Simmons, Jean Tinguely, Josephine Troller and Joseph Yoakum
Performances: Dolores and Charlotte Bouckaert – Everybody has to leave home sometime (3 and 4 March), Monster Chetwynd – Diorama (continuous), Rita Hoofwijk - /Char (continuous), Gaëtan Rusquet and Damien Petitot – In-Depth (29 and 30 April, 7 and 8 May)
Total number of works: 85
Catalogue: Rinus Van de Velde: Inner Travels (published by Hannibal in collaboration with EUROPALIA, designed by Joris Kritis), with contributions from Koen Sels, Ursula Ströbele, Julie Verheye, Dirk Vermaelen and Stefaan Vervoort.
PRESS PACK:
Rinus Van de Velde, Luckily I didn't feel much., 2019 colored pencil on paper, artist frame 18,2 x 11,4 cm. Courtesy Tim Van Laere Gallery, Antwerp.
Rinus Van de Velde, It's only charming..., 2019 colored pencil on paper, artist frame 30 x 25,1 cm. Courtesy Tim Van Laere Gallery, Antwerp.
Rinus Van de Velde, Hey Edward Seago,..., 2021 oil pastel on paper 181 x 112 cm 200,5 x 132 x 5,2 cm (frame). Courtesy Tim Van Laere Gallery, Antwerp.
Rinus Van de Velde, Some of them were specially hired ..., 2021 oil pastel on paper 73,1 x 98 cm 89,6 x 115 x 4 cm (frame). Courtesy Tim Van Laere Gallery, Antwerp.