Foam meets Dirk Braeckman

On 6 February de Appel arts centre and Foam are organizing an exclusive evening focused on the Belgian photographer Dirk Braeckman. Edwin Becker speaks from a painter's perspective about Dirk Braeckman, while Marc Feustel treats the photographic perspective. Their presentations will be followed by an Artist's Talk with Dirk Braeckman, under the direction of Marcel Feil and the other guests. THE EVENT IS FULLY BOOKED. SORRY!

With Edwin Becker, Dirk Braeckman, Ann Demeester, Marcel Feil and Marc Feustel

THE EVENT IS FULLY BOOKED. SORRY!

On 6 February de Appel arts centre and Foam are organizing an exclusive evening focused on the Belgian photographer Dirk Braeckman. Edwin Becker speaks from a painter's perspective about Dirk Braeckman, while Marc Feustel treats the photographic perspective. Their presentations will be followed by an Artist's Talk with Dirk Braeckman, under the direction of Marcel Feil and the other guests.

This winter de Appel arts centre is simultaneously presenting solo projects by the Belgian photographer/filmmaker Dirk Braeckman and the British artist Zarina Bhimji. Braeckman's sensitive and large-scale photographs in shades of grey do not tell elaborate stories, but are charged with an atmosphere which makes them “tick away like time bombs”, in the words of the author Luc Sante. The suggestive force and narrative potential of images are just as essential for Bhimji, whose latest film Yellow Patch (2011) had its Dutch première in de Appel arts centre.

Since the early 1990s Dirk Braeckman (Belgium, 1958) has built up an oeuvre of enigmatic photographs, large prints in black and white and shades of grey that reveal ambiguous images: desolate areas, reflecting wallpaper, a blurred painting, a fragment of a nude. Braeckman gives central place to atmosphere, texture and suggestion. The photographs have a snapshot-like, ephemeral quality, while each image is actually composed in a very precise way. Every detail is important: the cropping, the light, colour and texture, the lack of focus, and the material on which the photograph is printed. Braeckman approaches and treats photography like a painter.

In this exhibition Braeckman presents a carefully chosen selection of new photographs culled from the untitled publication recently released by Roma Publications (a cross between an artist’s book and a catalogue raisonné). From his extensive archive of negatives Braeckman selected “new images”, that have never been printed and are being premièred in de Appel arts centre. For some time now Braeckman has expanded his work with video art. In addition to several photo series, "Hemony” is being shown, a video work shot shortly before the opening of the exhibition in the Old Church in Amsterdam, just a stone's throw away from Appel.

The Dirk Braeckman exhibition can be visited until 31 March 2013. More information here.

Programme 6 February

7 pm Welcome by Ann Demeester + short introduction Dirk Braeckman

Edwin Becker, Head of Exhibitions – Van Gogh Museum speaks about the painterly perspective.

Marc Feustel, treats the photographic perspective. http://www.eyecurious.com/

Artist's Talk with Dirk Braeckman, under de direction of Marcel Feil, Deputy Director, Artistic Affairs, Foam, with Edwin Becker and Marc Feustel.

End 8.30 pm

Regular entrance fees

Reservations: Reservation

Furthermore we would like to draw attention to a dinner offer in advance or after the event at MOES (kitchen open until 22.00) in the basement of de Appel arts center. A dish (fish / meat or vegetarian) is offered for 10, -. Please make reservations MOES

Discount offer: Foam and de Appel arts centre
During the Dirk Braeckman exhibition de Appel arts centre and Foam are joining in a mutual discount action. It will run from 25 January, 2013, through the end of the Dirk Braeckman exhibition on 31 March, 2013.