Poppositions art fair in Brussels cancelled for 2020

Poppositions, an independent art fair founded in 2012 in Brussels by Liv Vaisberg, Pieter Vermeulen, and Edouard Meier, has announced the cancellation of its 2020 edition. The fair, known for its curated and experimental format, will pause to reassess its model. The decision comes amid broader challenges for independent fairs, which struggle with economic and logistical difficulties while competing with larger fairs during art weeks. In a statement, the co-founders noted that the art scene and Brussels have evolved significantly over eight years, prompting a need to reconsider the fair's format. The cancellation follows a similar move by Independent, a New York-based fair that launched a Brussels edition in 2016. After two successful editions, Independent shifted its Brussels event to autumn 2018 with a more curatorial, performance-focused format curated by Vincent Honoré, but cancelled its Belgian edition in summer 2019 due to timing conflicts with Brussels' spring art week and competition from Shanghai Contemporary Art Fair, as well as logistical issues with larger venues.