New Photography Exhibitions at FOMU Antwerp: Summer 2023 Showcase
A major new season of photography is arriving at FOMU, the Photo Museum Antwerp. Starting June 24, 2023, the museum will present three distinct exhibitions that highlight community collaboration, emerging regional talent, and deep reflections on language and displacement.
These upcoming presentations offer visitors a comprehensive look at how contemporary photographers interact with different communities both within Belgium and internationally.
Human Connections Through the Lens of Vincen Beeckman
Running from June 24 to October 8, 2023, Ping Pong marks the first major museum exhibition for Belgian photographer Vincen Beeckman. His artistic practice is defined by long-term commitment and mutual trust, engaging in a creative "table tennis" match with his subjects where collaboration continues only as long as both sides remain active participants.
The exhibition provides an intimate look at four of Beeckman’s core projects:
- Cracks: A collaborative effort with unhoused individuals around Brussels Central Station, who utilized disposable cameras to document their lives and co-create exhibitions and publications.
- Les Intimes: A multi-decade role as an unofficial family photographer for a household in Mons, capturing milestones ranging from weddings to everyday gatherings.
- La Devinière: An exploration of life inside a psychotherapy facility near Charleroi, where Beeckman integrated into the community over several years.
- Studio Palermo: A fresh portrayal of Antwerp's creative scene, mapping out connections through tattoo artists, designers, and musicians in the port city.
Visitors can purchase the accompanying publication, Pong Ping, in the museum shop for €39.50. You can also explore more about the artist's past projects directly on Vincen Beeckman's website.
Discovering the Next Generation of Belgian Photography
Also on display until October 8, 2023, the eleventh edition of the .tiff showcase presents ten selected photographers with a connection to Belgium. Rather than aiming to define a single national style, the exhibition celebrates the sheer variety and vitality of the current Belgian photography scene.
The selected artists for 2023 are:
- Kwabena Sekyi Appiah-Nti
- Emilio Azevedo
- Eva Maria Bouillon
- Luna Mahoux
- Fabrice Schneider
- Sarah Stone
- Brahim Tall
- Kristof Thomas
- Oxiea Villamonte
- Yao Yuan
This year's selection featured a revised process, incorporating a specialized external jury consisting of independent curator Sorana Munsya, Paris Photo artistic director Anna Planas, and artist Max Pinckers. This initiative is organized in conjunction with FUTURES, a collaborative European photography network. The accompanying .tiff magazine is available at the museum shop for €7.
Meggy Rustamova's Poetic Reflection on Language and Childhood
Exhibiting through August 27, 2023, Georgia-born artist Meggy Rustamova presents a newly commissioned video installation titled Bang [Ding Dong]. Drawing on her personal history as a young refugee arriving in Europe, the film observes children navigating the challenges of learning Dutch.
The piece centers on the linguistic confusion surrounding the Dutch word "bang" (meaning "afraid"), contrasting its heavy emotional weight with the playful, cartoon-like sounds of "Ding Dong." Through photographs taken by the children of their surroundings and archival school imagery, Rustamova addresses sensitive questions regarding safety, fear, and cultural perception. More details about her wider practice can be found on Meggy Rustamova's website.
This project was developed through the FOMU Grant, an initiative designed to foster artistic photography in Flanders by commissioning new works, displaying them at the museum, and acquiring them for the permanent collection.
Planning Your Visit to Antwerp's Arts District
Located in the lively 't Zuid (South) neighborhood of Antwerp, FOMU sits alongside other prominent cultural institutions, making it an ideal destination for a day of cultural exploration.
When mapping out your next itinerary in the city, you can use Musemap (musemap.art) to find the best local cultural spots. Take a moment to browse museums in the area, check out current schedules to see what's on during your travel dates, or explore the wider neighborhood using the map view.
