THE FRIENDS’ BOOKLET AUTUMN > WINTER 2017 DEAR FRIENDS, Fifty years ago, on 15 August 1967, René Magritte, innovative artist and master of Surrealism, died at the age of 69. His influence is still felt today and this autumn, the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium propose an exhibition in which you will discover the connections that were forged and still are by artists such as Broodthaers, Condo, Landers, and Altmejd with the work of René Magritte. (Pp 6-7) A number of activities around Magritte are organized from October 2017 to February 2018, remember to check pages 8 & 9 if you don’t want to miss any. We hope to see many of you at the Friends’ Private evening on Tuesday 17 October (pp 4-5). This anniversary will be celebrated throughout Belgium (pp 10-11-12-13); More For Friends (pp 18-19) will take you to the Atomium and the Théâtre des Galeries. It is also an opportunity to (re) visit the Magritte Museum, which will celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2019. A superb programme of trips and excursions has been put together for this season: Pourbus, Memling and Kentridge in Bruges, Millet in Lille and the great exhibitions in London, all in excellent company. Discover the destinations details in (pp 20-21-22-23). From August 2017, upon renewing your membership you will receive new more practical Friends cards; they will continue to give you privi- Visit our website www.becomeafriend.be to be kept informed of the latest (p 29) activities and events of the Friends and take full benefit of the advantages leged access to our museums and you keep the same benefits . offered to you! It was already 40 years ago that the Information desk was created and since then it has been enthusiastically managed by our many Editor (pp 30-31) Christiane Waucquez volunteers . Many thanks for their continued contributions. Rue du Musée 9, 1000 Brussels There’s plenty more good news this autumn 2017! We were delighted Contact to hear that Mr. Michel Draguet’s mandate as Director General of Friends of the RMFAB the RMFAB has been renewed for a period of 6 years. We extend Rue du Musée 9, 1000 Brussels our warmest congratulations to him on his appointment. After many T +32 (0)2 511 41 16 years of renovation, the Auditorium A (400 seats) and the Delporte [email protected] / www.becameafriend.be rooms (Dutch art collection) are once again open! Becomeafriend Dear Friends, thank you for your faithful and generous support Design without which all these achievements (pp 30-31) wouldn’t see the www.indekeuken.org light of day. We look forward to seeing you soon in our museums! This booklet has been created and printed with the help of Treetop. 3 MAGRITTE, BROODTHAERSTuesday 17.10 2016 at 17:30 & 19:00 & Friends’ René Magritte, innovative artist and master Private of Surrealism, has profoundly influenced the Evening art scene and still is a source of inspiration L’ART CONTEMPORAINfor contemporary artists. 50 years after his death, this exhibition presents the connections made by artists such as Broodthaers, George Condo, Gavin Turk, Sean Landers, David Altmejd and many others with GUIDED TOURS MAGRITTE, BROODTHAERSthe work of Magritte. FOLLOWED & BY DRINKS To register for this event, send your payment of €10 per person (€17 for non-members) into DE HEDENDAAGSE KUNSTthe account BE46 3100 4042 4636 – BBRUBEBB, mentioning the date, hour and language (French or Dutch). Registration and payment before 1 October 2017 (no confirmation will be MAGRITTE, BROODTHAERSprovided and no refund in case of absence). & Entrance through the Magritte Museum: 1 Place Royale/Koningsplein 1000 Brussels CONTEMPORARY© The Estate of Marcel Broodthaers SABAM, c/o Belgium / Graphic Design: www.indekeuken.org ART 5 13.10 2017 > 18.02 2018 Magritte, Broodthaers & contemporary art Fifty years ago, on 15 August 1967, René Magritte, a major artist of the Belgian and international art scene died. The work of Magritte still influences many contemporary artists today. To mark the anniversary, the exhibition of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium will focus first on the dialogue that Marcel Broodthaers started with Magritte’s work in 1964 and secondly show the works of artists who, since the 80s, have been inspired by the artist’s ‘vache’ period. The influence of the ‘word-paintings’ (1927-1929) both in Belgium and the United States contributed to the emergence of Conceptual art. The Magritte-Broodthaers relationship developed at the end of Wold War II. At a time when Magritte intended to redefine Surrealism by positioning it in ‘full sunlight’ during his ‘Renoir’ period. This period ended with the series of works described as ‘vache’ which were exhibited in Paris in 1948. This trashing of painting by painting itself in an exuberant gesture marked and still marks much of the contemporary creation. Far from the search for critical knowledge that was at the heart of the Magritte-Broodthaers axis, the aim here is to re-establish the supremacy of the subject, if only in an ironic way. From Georges Condo to Gavin Turk, from Sean Landers to David Altmejd, the work of Magritte constitutes a major reference for any artist who intends to reflect on the production of images, the representation or transposition of reality under the sign of similarity. The exhibition is exceptionally open 7 days a week. 1936. Only for this occasion, the Magritte Museum will open every . Eloge de la dialectique, René Magritte day from 13.10.2017 to 18.02.2018 (including Mondays). Museum of Ixelles. © 2017, Charly Herscovici c/o Sabam © 2017, Photo archive R.Magritte / 6 ADAGP Image Bank, Paris. 7 To celebrate MAGRITTE year, A new Magritte Museum website will be integrated into the general website of the RMFAB: www.fine-arts-museum.be Through this new user-friendly online platform, the visitors will find all the information necessary to prepare their visit or extend it. The access to the different resources will be tailored for each type of public (students, teachers...) The online Magritte Shop will make it possible to purchase original souvenirs and gifts 24 hours a day. The Magritte Museum will be accessible 7 days a week from 13.10 2017 > 18.02 2018 and will be one of the few museums to be open on a Monday (10:00 to 17:00) in Brussels. Magritte beer: When a Belgian icon meets another! The Magritte Museum has partnered with the Brasserie de la Senne to develop a 100% Belgian and surrealist beer. This quirky reference would certainly have pleased the artist who was a regular at the café ‘La Fleur en Papier Doré’ in the centre of Brussels with his surrealist friends. Animated workshops will welcome young and old on the following Saturdays and Sundays: November 4 & 5, December 2 & 3, January 13 & 14, February 3 & 4, from 14:00 to 18:00 (p 28). Free admission for all thanks to the support of the Friends of RMFAB, without reservation > www.becomeafriend.be Marcel Broodthaers. Magritte. Donation from the Friends of RMFAB, 2014. © The Estate 8 of Marcel Broodthaers c/o SABAM, Belgium 9 Exhibition in focus 13.10 2017 > 18.02 2018 Magritte & Marcel Lecomte Marcel Lecomte, writer, art critic who worked at the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium was part of the first circle of surrealists in Belgium and helped Magritte to find his path. It was thanks to him that Magritte discovered the work of Giorgio De Chirico that would revolutionize his vision of painting. A great complicity also linked him to Broodthaers who immortalized him shortly before his death. In addition to their relationship, the exhibition will feature Lecomte’s unpublished texts about Magritte and the correspondence between these two friends and accomplices. To accompany this exhibition, the RMFAB will publish a new Cahier des Musées devoted to ‘Marcel Lecomte’. Authors: Philippe Dewolf, Paul Aron + texts from Marcel Lecomte, Jacques Van Lennep and Suzanne Houbart. More for Friends > Sunday 03.12 2017 11:30 GUIDED TOUR OF THE MAGRITTE MUSEUM – EXHIBITION LECOMTE (15 places available) Marcel Broodthaers. À Marcel Lecomte, 1967. Four black and white framed photographs © The Estate of Marcel Broodthaers 10 c/o SABAM, Belgium 11 Magritte Year in Belgium MAGRITTE, ATOMIUM MEETS SURREALISM 21.09 2017 > 10.09 2018 René Magritte and the Atomium, two monuments of the Belgian heritage, will propel you into an experience that challenges all the senses, a real must for all publics. Visit the Atomium to discover René Magritte in a playful and unexpected way. More for Friends > Saturday 30.09 2017 11:00 GUIDED TOUR OF THE ATOMIUM (20 places available) MAGRITTE AND THE SEA 20.10 2017 > 14.01 2018 Scharpoord Cultural Centre in Knokke-Heist. The sea is a source of inspiration in the works of Magritte. The beach and the waves, the sea and the sky often form the background in his surrealist paintings. Eric Rinkchout, specialist of Magritte, explores the history of Magritte the artist, and also that of René, the man and the sea. >> 12 13 THE MAGRITTE CEILING IN THE THÉÂTRE DES GALERIES (Galerie du Roi in the Galeries Saint Hubert, Brussels) During the refurbishment of the Theatre in 1951, René Magritte executed a ‘cloudy’ fresco for its ceiling. The initial project, known from a preparatory gouache, showed a sky in which many bells were floating, one of the most frequent motifs used by Magritte. However, Magritte was asked not to paint these dark symbols in the fresco. During the recent renovation of 2016, it was decided to paint the initial project according to the original gouache exhibited in the Magritte Museum.