@ S.M.A.K. Ghent: Raoul de Keyser … / by fariba mosleh

Finally I made it to Ghent for the first time. It’s so easy to communicate within Belgium, it only takes half an hour to go from BXL to Ghent! And once there I used the last day of exhibition to see the works of Flemish artist Raoul de Keyser, who died in 2012. I like his kind of easy accessible œvre, but especially his early works - abstract and formal at the same time, reflecting probably his own obsession with sport … quite interesting that you already in his works of the 70ies you see the occupation of the space, which is currently quite popular - when he puts paintings into the open room or puts them onto the floor leaning onto the wall.
But S.M.A.K. itself? it’s a huge and cool building with great light situations letting light in via roof lights and huge windows.
The presentation of the collection and as well the photo exhibition at the ground floor level feels a bit arbitrary … And, there is the Broodthaers Cabinet, which is quite funny to visit with kids. The humor of that artists, who by the way was born in Saint Gilles, where we currently live, is simply accessible to a certain degree.
We will come back and are curious about the upcoming exhibitions … BUT also for the many other cultural hot spots in Ghent!