Two Exhibitions in Brussels and Louvain Challenge Photography's Place in Art

Two concurrent exhibitions in Belgium explore photography's role in contemporary art. At the Musées d'Ixelles in Brussels, 'La photographie n'est pas l'art' borrows its title from Man Ray to ironically contradict the statement, assembling over 200 original prints spanning avant-garde photography from 1920 to the present. Curated by David Rosenberg and Régis Durand, the show is organized into six thematic chapters—Corps, Espaces, Objets, Masques et visages, Scènes, Lettres et mots—eschewing chronology for transversal connections. Man Ray appears as a guiding figure across all sections. Highlights include conceptual works by Joseph Kosuth, Bernar Venet, Robert Barry, Douglas Huebler, On Kawara, Vito Acconci, and Bruce Nauman. Each chapter opens and closes with a non-photographic piece, linking to the broader Perlstein collection. Meanwhile, at M Museum in Louvain, Jan Vercruysse's exhibition covers 35 years (1975–2009) but avoids a retrospective format, instead offering a non-linear journey through his oeuvre. Vercruysse's work synthesizes conceptual art and poetry, often using photography, and evolves into objects that blend minimalist sophistication with dysfunctional furniture. His series 'Tombeaux' explores emptiness, while 'Places' references card games. The exhibition includes an extensive catalogue and travels to Strasbourg's Musée d'Art Moderne et Contemporain until April 25.