After 2 years of BRAFA emptiness , because of Covid, we could feed our artsy souls again by visiting the Brussels Antiques and Fine Art Fair. I’m sure that a lot of art lovers were looking forward to this, I know I was and I’m not even an art crazy, just a lover of the finer things in life :). But this time (67th expo) it was not held at the inspiring surroundings of Tour&Taxi, but at the Brussels Expo. Whilst the exhibitors claim that the change in scenery was a welcome change and breathed new life into BRAFA, they also claimed that the fair retained its essential values: quality, authenticity and eclecticism.
There were the usual and long-standing galleries, but also 18 exhibitors,who promoted discovery and a mix of styles. This year’s host is our own Belgian Arne Quinze.
My 2 artsy friends were of course very excited, because this expo is a unique occasion for art lovers to admire several millennia of artistic creations presented by more than 100 established and new art galleries. There is something to love and to admire for everyone. This is love for art at it’s finest.
BRAFA 2022 is also a great opportunity to get to know the works of artists from outside Europe. I was impressed by the Cameroonian artist Barthélémy Toguo at Nosbaum Reding, the American artist and the American-Kenyan artist Wangechi Mutu at Galerie
Boulakia. A selection of “fetishes” from the Democratic Republic of Congo was also on display, at Didier Claes. We also met my friend’s cousin ‘An-Jo Fermin’ who is the owner of the prestigious Whitford gallery in London.
But what struck me most was the unique carpet of pastel colours. It was designed by Ege carpets, the world’s first sustainable carpet manufacturer. Ege bought 47,5 million used plastic bottles to recycle and together with old fishing nets they made the under layer of the carpet. For many years the carpets at BRAFA were designed by students from LaCambre, but this time Belgian guest of honour, Arne Quinze volunteered. He wanted visitors to give the impression that they were walking in the garden of his house in Sint Maertens Latem, so he painted the 3 km long carpet by hand with all bright colours. It made me happy just looking at it!
I would love to have a piece of that carpet…art on the floor…❤️ It will be delivered to charity, so maybe I have a chance…https://m.facebook.com/brafaartfair/
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