The 70th Edition of the BRAFA Art Fair Highlights the Work of Joana Vasconcelos
For those who aren’t familiar with the name, BRAFA is one of Europe’s most prestigious art fairs. For 8 days, the Brussels Expo becomes a unique platform showcasing rare works of art ranging from Antiquity to the 21st century. Since its foundation in 1956, BRAFA’s commitment to excellence has ensured the quality of the works presented and its steady evolution. Over the years, it has grown in size and international scope, moving from one venue to another several times without losing any of its charm or its core objective: to offer the highest-quality art fair possible to attract collectors in search of treasures. 130 international galleries will be exhibiting in this year’s edition. Whether it’s ancient or modern painting, tribal art, jewellery, silverware or design, the selection is carefully curated to offer the finest pieces of each discipline.
This year, the spotlight is on Joana Vasconcelos, a Portuguese visual artist whose career spans over 30 years and encompasses a wide variety of media. While she has a predilection for textile materials, Vasconcelos also works with concrete, metal, ceramics, glass or even found objects. Internationally renowned for her monumental sculptures and immersive installations, her practice aims to decontextualise everyday objects and update the idea of crafts in the 21st century. Using humour and irony, she invites us to challenge conventional notions regarding womanhood, consumerism and collective identity.
At the opening evening, we met the fair’s general manager Beatrix Bourdon, as well as Daniel Templon, Nathalie Obadia, François de Jonckheere, Laurent Dassault, and Thomas Deprez.
Photos: Michael Huard
