Many of you are likely enjoying a long weekend, thanks to Ascension Day on Thursday. What better way to make the most of the extra days off work than by exploring the Belgian capital?
From documentary screenings and rooftop parties to comic strip exhibitions and photography festivals, The Brussels Times has you covered. Find all our favourite activities happening below.
Arts, music and culture
'Ana + Yek' screening, Bozar, Friday 30 May
The (auto)biographical documentary Ana + yek (Moroccan Arabic for "me + you"), co-directed by Romy Mana, captures the changes twin sisters Sanaa and Zohra undergo in their evolving relationship in a uniquely intimate and moving way. What begins as Zohra's exploration of Moroccan heritage gradually reveals Sanaa's deepening love for Islam, unfolding as an intimate cinematic dialogue on sisterly love and independence.
Credit: Mirage films
The documentary captures the two worlds of these Belgian-Moroccan women: their mother's Western culture and their father's Islamic one. The rift between the once-inseparable twins is palpable, but they share a mutual longing for connection – a relatable story for those searching for a place in a divided world.
Find more information here.
'Rise & Shine', Bozar rooftop, Sunday 1 June (once a month until September)
The famed rooftop of the Bozar Centre for Fine Arts will kick off its sensational summer 'Rise & Shine' rooftop programme this weekend. On one Sunday each month until September, enjoy live hip-hop, jazz and soul music, dance and DJ sets and beer on tap.
Credit: Bozar
Behind Rise & Shine lies LD Music Agency, organiser of Brussels Jazz Alert, and Tap Water Jam, run by Mab'ish in Brussels, which combines house and hip-hop with dancing. During the rest of the week, head to the rooftop for concerts, stand-up comedy, conferences, themed evenings, mini-festivals, family activities, children's parties and more.
Find more information here.
Tapajós, Les Halles de Schaerbeek, until Saturday 31 May
In the early days of photography, the development process required the use of the same chemical element responsible for the destruction of the Tapajós River in Brazil and many of its inhabitants: mercury.
Brazilian Gabriela Carneiro da Cunha has long been involved in an artistic study of the ravaged rivers of her homeland Brazil and the women living on the Tapajós' banks, fighting to heal their bodies, wombs, children and their river. Tapajós is born out of an encounter with these women, poisoned by mercury from illegal mining activities.
Credit: Gabriela Carneiro da Cunha
Using trays of water and photographic chemicals to develop pictures, aided by the audience, Carneiro da Cunha creates a performance where emerging images guide a narrative about the river water, about pollution and photography as a form of testimony. The words and bodies of the women and the river combine in a vivid, fervent investigation, with the audience as chorus and instruments of the performance.
Find more information here.
'Quick et Flupke, gamins de Bruxelles' exhibition, Galerie Champaka, until 14 June
Comic strip fans are in luck, as a new Quick and Flupke exhibition has just opened in Brussels' Sablon district. Visitors can discover 24 original comic strips featuring the two young Brussels residents' adventures, as well as a selection of covers from the newspaper Le Petit Vingtième, in which most of their stories were published.
Quick and Flupke exhibition. Credit: The Brussels Times / Leo Cendrowicz
Quick and Flupke first appeared in 1930, when Le Petit Vingtième was expanding. Hergé, who was editor-in-chief at the time, had to invent new stories to fill the extra pages. The two characters are cheeky rascals and use expressions and onomatopoeia typical of the Belgian capital. Hergé had fun with this series, employing a different approach with fewer constraints, and bold shots, new inking techniques and unbridled humour. Hergé published a total of 317 Quick and Flupke gags until 1941, but later reused some of them in different formats. 11 colourised albums were also released from 1949 onwards.
Find more information here.
Brussels Street Photography Festival, RESET, until Sunday 1 June
The Brussels Street Photography Festival (BSPF) is back with a packed weekend of events and exhibitions, showcasing the best of contemporary street photography, both as an art form and an urban research tool.
A BSPF finalist from 2019. Credit: Sean Declerck
From workshops and lectures to photo walks and exhibitions, the BSPF displays the most moving photographs from local and international artists. Featuring both emerging and established talent, the festival aims to bring this art form to the general public in an accessible and innovative way. Expand your horizons this long bank holiday weekend!
Find more information here.
Out and about
Mid-week activities
Textile Recycling Expo, Brussels Expo, 4 and 5 June
This free two-day exhibition and conference is the first of its kind, focusing specifically on solving the pressing issue of textile waste, including the recycling of fabrics, clothing, footwear and fibres.
Credit: Textiles Recycling Expo
A large international audience from across the supply chain will be present, including leading recyclers, waste managers, textile manufacturers, clothing suppliers, retailers and other stakeholders. Together, they will attempt to find solutions and explore recycling strategies and technologies to meet growing consumer pressures and new EU regulations. Network with key industry players and learn all about the world of textile recycling!
Find more information here.
