On Friday 10 May, Kunsthal Extra City celebrates its 100th exhibition with the grand opening of 'Ancestral Clouds Ancestral Claims' by Denise Ferreira da Silva & Arjuna Neuman. 'Periphery' is also set for an update: we inaugurate Juana's Dream (2024), a new semi-permanent work by Clara Spilliaert, and add Garden of Eden (2023) by Hussein Shikha.

You are most welcome for an evening full of art and culture.

Denise Ferreira da Silva en Arjuna Neuman - Ancestral Clouds Ancestral Claims

We are proud to open the first exhibition in Belgium by internationally renowned artist duo Denise Ferreira da Silva and Arjuna Neuman. With four video works, they take you on a poetic exploration of ‘Elemental Cinema’, exploring the interconnectedness of water, air, fire and earth. Their latest and most ambitious film to date, Ancestral Clouds Ancestral Claims (2023) focuses on the element of air. It centres on travelling winds from the Sahara to the Amazon and along the Pacific coast.

Their work sensorially highlights themes of colonialism, capitalism and imperial injustice, offering a multi-perspectival view of the world. The screenings are shown alternately with Dutch and English subtitles.

Clara Spilliaert - Juana’s Dream & Hussein Shikha - Garden of Eden

After several months of preparation, we can finally inaugurate Juana’s Dream (2024) by Clara Spilliaert. For 'Periphery', she created a site-specific glass installation that enters into a dialogue with an existing stained-glass window in Extra City. Spilliaert drew inspiration from the legend of Juana de Aza the mother of the founder of the Dominican Order, Saint Dominic.

Intrigued by the story of this female figure the artist created a poetic contemplative installation that focuses on connections between gender and spirituality, the human relation to nature and the role of symbolism in forming individual and collective identity.

Clara Spilliaert will be present at the opening evening and at 8:50 pm she will give a short introduction to her latest work at Kunsthal Extra City.

The work Garden of Eden (2023) is also a new addition in 'Periphery'. This tapestry work by Hussein Shikha was commissioned for the exhibition 'Carpetland. Critical Tapestries.' and will now get a more permanent place at Kunsthal Extra City.

'Periphery' is a slowly evolving project where the art hall collaborates with artists to question, activate and explore its non-neutral location.

David Bernstein - New Lovin

10, 11 and 12 May are also the very last chances to catch David Bernstein's exhibition and performance 'New Lovin'. During the opening of our new exhibition, there are only a few places left at 20:30, so don't delay in booking your spot here!

Bernstein's intriguing performances explore the complexity of human desires for dominance and submission. The performances are in English and last about 40 minutes. Places are limited to 10 people per slot.

Marianne Vierø - Flesh, or the Colour of Any Other Object

At our neighbours MORPHO, Marianne Vierø presents her solo exhibition 'Flesh, or the Colour of Any Other Object'. The exhibition consists of three groups of works, each exploring sculpture in relation to temporality, using wax, aluminium and photograms.

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THE PROGRAM

19:00: Public opening
& first screening Ancestral Clouds Ancestral Claims (Dutch subtitles)

19:30: Performance New Lovin - David Bernstein (chapel, fully booked)

20:00: Thank you moment and introduction of the artists (garden or café)
& second screening Ancestral Clouds Ancestral Claims (English subtitles)

20:30: Performance New Lovin - David Bernstein (chapel, a few places left)

20:50: Q&A with Clara Spilliaert and curator Zuzanna Rachowska (church)

21:00: Guided tour by Marianne Vierø in her solo exhibition (in the refectory of Morpho, past the garden)
& third screening Ancestral Clouds Ancestral Claims (Dutch subtitles)

22:00: Fourth screening Ancestral Clouds Ancestral Claims (English subtitles)

23:00: Doors close

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Free admission