It is becoming a kind of tradition : every other year François Bienfait, the Brussels born pastelist, invites us to discover his latest production of drawings related to his home city.
His Brussels is not the Atomium nor the Manneken piss. It is rather a daily scene in Bonsoir Clara, a typical restaurant in rue Dansaert, l’Horloge du Sud on rue du Trône, an evening event in the Sounds jazz club on rue de la Tulipe in Ixelles or at the Archiduc in the city centre.
Urban inspirations
It could also be a rather mysterious movie projection at the Art deco swimming pool of Saint Josse ten Noode, a glimse on the manege of Andréa in the Plaisirs d‘hiver on Place Sainte Catherine, some Art Nouveau style windows in Etterbeek or in Saint Gilles’ Hotel Hannon. But also some anonymous characters encountered in the streets of Brussels, at the Halles Saint Géry, in the metro Maelbeek station, or in their shops, like Oumou – the milkmaid of la Bourse or Monsieur Demarteau, horloger for the last 45 years in the Rue des Chartreux.
You will also find the doves of Place St. Catherine’s fountain or a spontaneous fancy dressed jazz band performing place De Brouckère under the Belgian rain. This drawing is called «la joyeuse entrée à Bruxelles» in reference to the Belgian painter James Ensor whose 75 years of death are celebrated this year everywhere in the country.
But this time, in addition to his drawings celebrating Bruxelles, François has decided to add another section in his exhibition, called Brux…elles, as an hommage to the many models that he had the privilege to draw during last years at the Academy of Fine Arts of Watermael-Boitsfort and in private sessions in Etterbeek, Ixelles, Wavre and Watermael-Boitsfort. Drawing models is of course a self-sufficient artistic performance but it is also an excellent practice to develop skills in order to be able to represent all other thematic. As François puts it: « when you are able to make a good model drawing then you are almost ready for everything else. Qui peut le plus peut le moins ».
Laurent Sébes, a well established French sculptor who recently discovered François Bienfait’s work says: In one sentence what I feel about François’ art is kind of artistic honesty, as we would say « honnêteté intellectuelle ». Not characterised by any specific current, no fashion, no conceptualism but a sincere artistic expression of pure emotions.
Exhibition details:
Friday 31th May from 12.00 till 22.00 (vernissage starting at 18.00)
Saturday 1st June from 14.00 till 20.00
Sunday 2nd June from 12.00 till 17.00
Location: TALK C.E.C. Gallery, 143 chaussée de Wavre Wavresteenweg, 1050 Brussels
To learn more about the artist, follow him on Instagram @Francois_bienfait2
TALK C.E.C (Creators of Cultural Experiences) is an independent space dedicated to cultural and artistic experiences in the heart of Brussels. Read more in our original story here.
Located within the former Demeuldre factory (listed as heritage), on the border of the European quarter and Matonge district, Talk C.E.C is a laboratory of ideas and experiments bringing together art, science, history and contemporary issues.
Currently at Talk C.E.C:
Immersive exhibition of contemporary and urban art Mers & Océans (reservation)
Heritage visits by Arkadia
Musical programme (reservation)
