Mar. 21, 2019
What happens when capitalist corporations exploit activism for the sake of turning a profit? This question, among related motifs, will be addressed by the eighth edition of Poppositions, an alternative art fair that aims to promote acquisition as much as it does criticality—the opposite of, say, a T-shirt bearing the recycling logo or phrase “Choose Peace” when its label says “Made in China”. Entitled ‘Capital of Woke’, more than 25 art spaces from 12 countries will fill Le Centre Tour à Plomb–Hageltoren with artworks that address the concept of woke and how its mainstream popularization has infiltrated—and even helped advance—corporate and capitalist structures.
Barbora Zentková and Julia Gryboś: ‘Diagnosis of the curved spine,’ installation view at Horizont // Courtesy Horizont and Poppositions, ©David Biro
The fair will happen concurrent to Art Brussels, from April 25 to 28, and participants include VITRINE (Basel/London), The fridge (Sofia, BG), wildpalms (Düsseldorf), Syndicate (Los Angeles), Lily Robert (Paris) and Broodthaers Society of America (New York), among many others. Each exhibiting space submitted a proposal to an open call last year and the final list of participants was then selected by a committee comprising Diana Campbell Betancourt (Chief Curator at Dhaka Art Summit), Jessica Gysel (Founder of Girls Hears Brussels), Niekolaas Johannes Lekkerkerk (Artistic Director of Poppositions), Hana Miletić (artist based in Brussels and Zagreb), and Christophe Veys (collector).
Caetano: ‘Is There Any World to Come’, installation view at Showroom MAMA, 2017 // Courtesy MAMA and Poppositions, ©Lotte Stekelenburg
Each previous edition of Poppositions has presented a unique and surprising array of works from emerging and established artists alike, and we’re sure ‘Captial of Woke’ won’t be any different. Stop by for a much-needed breath of fresh air between the saturation of market-driven events during this bustling weekend in Brussels.
Art Fair Info
POPPOSITIONS
‘Capital of Woke’
Apr. 25–28, 2019
Le Centre Tour à Plomb–Hageltoren
Slachthuisstraat 20–26 Rue de l’Abattoir, 1000 Brussels, click here for map
Cole Lu: ‘Animal Fancy,’ installation view at Monaco, St. Louis (MO), 2019 // Courtesy Syndicate and Poppositions, ©Cole Lu
