From Van Eyck to Magritte

1830-2005 - 175 Years of Belgian Independence
THE BELGIAN CONTRIBUTION TO THE VISUAL ARTS
From Van Eyck to Magritte
by Mariano Akerman, Art Historian



13.01.05 - Embassy of Belgium, Manila: Anniversary Programme
Art Historian Mariano Akerman's Travelling Lectures on The Belgian Contribution to the Visual Arts: From Van Eyck to Magritte
This series of lectures aims to reveal the singularity and originality of a select group of Belgian masterpieces, including artworks by De la Pasture, Campin, Metsys, Bosch, Brueghel, Rubens, Khnopff, Rops, Ensor, Spillaert, Horta, Van de Velde, Delvaux and Folon. Mr. Akerman discusses their style and meaning, historical context, aesthetic qualities and raison d'être, appreciating them from unexpected, innovative perspectives.
The lecture series will start at the Belgian Residence, De La Salle University (The Museum), University of Santo Tomas (Arts and Science Museum), and Ateneo de Manila University (The Gallery) during the months of May, June and July 2005.
Details to be announced on www.be175.org

25.04.05 - Belgian Embassy in Manila, Anniversary Programme 175 Years Belgium Online
May 2005: Art Historian Mariano Akerman's Travelling Lectures on The Belgian Contribution to the Visual Arts: From Van Eyck to Magritte
This series of lectures aims to reveal the singularity and originality of a select group of Belgian masterpieces, [...] Mr. Akerman discusses their style and meaning, historical context, aesthetic qualities and raison d'être, appreciating them from unexpected, innovative perspectives.
The lecture series will start at the Belgian Residence, and travel to the University of the Philippines (College of Arts and Letters) on June 20 at 1 pm, De La Salle University (The Museum) on June 22 at 1 pm, University of Santo Tomas (Arts and Science Museum) on July 1 at 5 pm, and Ateneo de Manila University (The Gallery) on July 5 at 4:30 pm.
A public closing lecture will be held at the National Mueum of the Philippines on July 28 at 4 pm.

18.05.05 - Rosalinda L. Orosa - The Philippine Star, Manila
Sundry Strokes
To mark 175 years of Belgian independence, Ambassador Christiaan and Gul Tanghe will present art historian Mariano Akerman for an invitational opening lecture entitled "Belgian Art: Reality and Fantasy". The lecture, to be held on May 24 at the Belgian residence, will be the first in a series on "The Belgian Contribution to the Visual Arts: Fron Van Eyck to Magritte", and will be continued in major educational institutions in Metro Manila.

24.05.05 Embassy of Belgium, Manila - Art Appreciation Lectures brochure



To mark 175 years of Belgian Independence
the Royal Belgian Embassy presents a series of
Art Appreciation Lectures on
The Belgian Contribution to the Visual Arts
"From Van Eyck to Magritte"
by Mariano Akerman, Art Historian
Manila, 24 May - 28 July 2005

Abstract
Among the major achievements of the Belgian artists are the creation of the oil painting technique, the fostering of new artistic styles, the elaboration of unforgettable images relating to the depiction of usual things (mimesis) and unprecedented ones (fantasia), and above all-the articulation of what may be the finest questioning of the concept of reality in the History of Western Art. Mariano Akerman's art appreciation lectures on The Belgian Contribution to the Visual Arts from Van Eyck to Magritte aim to reveal the extraordinary character of a select group of Belgian masterpieces. Mr. Akerman discusses their style and meaning, historical context, aesthetic qualities and raison d'être, appreciating them from unexpected, innovative perspectives.

Mariano Akerman, Art Historian
Mariano Akerman was born in Buenos Aires (Argentina) in 1963. He obtained a masteral degree in architecture and urbanism from the Universidad de Belgrano with a prized graduation project on the limits and space in modern architecture. [...] Specializing in visual communication, Mariano Akerman is an experienced teacher in art history, design and art appreciation, having lectured at various renowned institutions. [...] His research has focused on Francis Bacon and Louis Kahn, but also on Belgian art. In April 2005, he lectured on reality and imagination art at the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes in Buenos Aires. A painter himself, Mariano Akerman has exhibited his work solo or in group [... since 1979 onwards].

Lecture Schedule
1. Belgian Art: Reality and Fantasy, Opening Lecture (by invitation), Belgian Residence, Manila, 24.05.05
2. The Marvel of Belgian Art in Renaissance and Modern Times, University of the Philippines, College of Arts and Letters, 20 June 2005, 1 – 4 pm. G/F Bulwagang Rizal, Pulungang Claro M. Recto, UP Diliman, Quezon City
3. Bosch and Magritte: Imagery of Reality and Fantasy?, De La Salle University, The Museum, 22 June 2005, 1 - 2:30 pm. DSLU Yuchengco Building, 4th Floor / Room Y 408 Seminar Room, 2401 Taft Avenue, Manila
4. Masterpieces of Belgian Art from Van Eyck to Magritte, University of Santo Tomas, Museum of Arts and Sciences, 1 July 2005, 2 - 3:30 pm. Mezzanine Floor, UST Main Building, España Avenue, Manila
5. Suggestive Paradoxes: Symbolism and Surrealism in Belgian Art, Ateneo de Manila University, Ateneo Art Gallery, 5 July 2005, 4:30 - 6 pm. G/F Rizal Library Building, Katipunan Avenue, Loyola Heights, Quezon City
6. Tradition and Innovation in the Visual Arts of Belgium: From Compassion to Provocation?, Public Closing Lecture, National Museum of the Philippines, 28 July 2005, 4 - 7 pm. Tambunting Villonco Hall, Teodoro Valencia Circle, P. Burgos Street, Manila

01.06.05 - Embassy of Belgium, Manila, Art appreciation competition form
Magritte in 175 Words
Write a personal comment on the imagery of Belgian painter René Magritte, thereby responding to the question "What kind of reality does Magritte paint?" [...] The winners will be proclaimed during Mr. Mariano Akerman's public closing lecture to be held at the National Museum on July 28, 2005, at 4 pm.

01.07.05 - Jocelyn Tullao
Masterpieces of Belgian Art from Van Eyck to Magritte
“The Belgian Contribution to the Visual Arts: from Van Eyck to Magritte”
July 1, 2005, 2:00 – 4:00 pm
Museum of Arts and Sciences
To mark the 175 years of Belgian independence, the Royal Belgian Embassy draws attention to the remarkable contributions of Belgian painters to the visual arts. In an art appreciation lecture entitled “The Belgian Contribution to the Visual Arts: From Van Eyck to Magritte” art historian, architect and painter Mariano Akerman appreciates the Belgian masterpieces from unexpected, innovative perspectives, discussing their style and meaning, historical context, aesthetic qualities and raison d’être.

28.07.05 Embassy of Belgium, Manila - National Museum Exhibitions Catalogue



The Royal Belgian Embassy presents
The 175 Years of Belgian Independence Celebration Exhibits

BELGIAN ART
Images from the Belgian Collection in Manila

Here, There, Everywhere
Paintings and drawings by Mariano Akerman

National Museum
Manila, July-August 2005



Belgian Art
A selection of Belgian artworks from the sixteenth century onwards is shown in the present exhibition. While an image by Brueghel the Elder depicts the story of Icarus, another, by Rubens, comprises four remarkable studies of a black man. Two engravings recall the traditional façades of the buildings at the Grand Place in Brussels. Nineteenth-century architecture is represented by the interior of a pavilion at the Royal Botanical Gardens, with its characteristic structure of iron and glass. Symbolist art finds expression in ambivalent figures and mysterious seascapes by Ensor and Spillaert. Representative of the Surrealist movement are Delvaux's intriguing settings and Magritte's incongruous juxtapositions. The famous Tintin, together with Black and Mortimer, all belong to the much-appreciated art of the comics (bande dessinée).

01. Baroque façades of the Grand Place, Brussels
02. Façade of the Maison du Roi, Grand Place Brussels
03. Interior of a Pavilion, Royal Botanical Gardens
04. Rubens: Four Studies of a Black Man
05. Brueghel the Elder: The Story of Icarus
06. Spillaert: Seascape
07. Ensor: Self-Portrait with Masks
08. Ensor: Grotesqueries
09. Delvaux: Evening Trains
10. Magritte: The Dominion of Light
11. Magritte: The Fall
12. Tintin
13. Black and Mortimer

Here, there, everywhere
Mariano Akerman exhibits twenty of his drawings and paintings, many of which were made in Brussels between 2001 and 2004. Gold and Ashes, for example, or Black Milk, like Waiting in Green, Being with No Land, Ceibo Flower and The Surprise where all painted in Belgium. [...] Most of the artist's works are watercolors, and some include the use of collage. One of the 2004 collages—Big Crab—has its origin in a traditional Philippino song for children, Ton ton ton ton pa kiton kiton.




Magritte in 175 Words
Art Appreciation Competition
First Prize: Tracy Beverly Santuyo
Second Prize: Charleene L. Marzan
Third Prize: Florian C. Garcia
Special Prize: Hans Kristine C. Malang

28.07.05 - Tanay Rizal
Belgian Art Lecture Aftermath
I'm back from the Belgian Art Lecture... Now I remember the Lecturer was Mr. Mariano Akerman. He is an Argentinian Art Historian, Artist and Architect! Cool!

06.08.05 - F.C. Garcia - The Varsitarian, Manila
Istilo ng sining Belgium, tinalakay sa exhibit
PARA sa pagdiriwang ng ika-175 taon ng kalayaan ng bansang Belgium, nagbigay ng lectures sa art appreciation ang Royal Belgian Embassy ukol sa kontribusyon ng kanilang bansa sa sining biswal.
Nagsimula sa Belgian Residence ang traveling lectures na ito bago makarating sa University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, at UST.
Sa masusing pagtalakay ni Mariano Akerman, isang eksperto sa sining mula sa Argentina, nabigyang pansin ang mga katangian ng makatotohanan at likhang-isip na istilong lumilitaw sa mga gawang-sining ng mga Belgian na pintor.
Para sa bahagi na ginanap sa Unibersidad, na may paksang “Masterpieces of Belgian Art from Van Eyck to Magritte,” inumpisahan ito sa mimesis o ang makatotohanang paglalarawan sa pamamagitan ng mabusising detalye, matitingkad na kulay, at mabuting komposisyon ang mga kasangkapan. Ginawang halimbawa nito ang “Girl with the Ducks” (c.1883) ni Emile Claus kung saan makikita sa painting ang isang batang babae na nagpapakain ng mga alagang bibe.
Sa pamamagitan ng tempera (mga makulay na pulbos na hinalo sa itlog), nabigyang buhay ng magkakapatid na Paul, Hermann, at Jean Limbourg ang isang tila-kalendaryong obra na “The Rich Hours.” Mapapansin ang maliliit na detalyeng matiyagang iginuhit ng mga pintor, tulad ng mga ginintuang fleur-de-lis sa mga kasuotan ng mga karakter.
Si Jan Van Eyck, isang maestro sa sining sa Belgium, ang kauna-unahang pintor na gumamit ng pamamaraan ng oil sa mimesis. Naging magandang halimbawa ng paghiram ng imahe ng tao sa isang gawang-sining ang altarpiece na ginawa niya para sa simbahan ng Ghent kung saan mapapansin ang kaibahan ng maputlang balat ni Adan sa kaniyang maitim at kulot na buhok.
Sa kabilang banda, tinalakay din ni Akerman ang phantasia, ang imahinatibong paglalarawan ng mga ideya at konsepto ng pintor sa pamamagitan ng malikhaing presentasyon ng realidad.
Kilala sa larangang ito si James Ensor, na nahilig sa pagpipinta ng mga larawang may kinalaman sa sosyo-pulitikal na aspeto ng isang pamayanan. Mapapansin sa kanyang mga ipininta ang mga kalansay na ginagampanan ang mga gawain ng nabubuhay na tao.
Isang malungkot na obra ang kanyang “Skeletons attempting to warm themselves” (c.1889) dahil ang mga kalansay na ito ay lumalapit sa isang tsimineang walang apoy. Sinasabing sumasalamin ito sa kondisyon ng mahihirap na mamayan sa Belgium.
Magkasalungat man na istilo ang mimesis at phantasia, naging matagumpay ang mga pintor na Belgian sa pag-iisa nito. Dito pumasok ang istilong surrealist. Naging matunog ang mga pangalan nina Léon Spillaert at Paul Delvaux, na parehong tubong Belguim, sa kilusang ito.
Sikat din sa istilong ito si René Magritte, isang magic realist noong panahon ng World War II. Naging simbolo ng isang magulo at nasalantang Europa ang kanyang “Taste of Tears” (c.1948) kung saan may isang halaman na may dahong kalapati na umiiyak.
Naging malaking bahagi ng sining Belgian ang simbolismo. Isang representasyon ng kasakiman ang “Saturn” (c.1635) ni maestro Peter Paul Rubens. Naging basehan nito ang mitolohiya ng diyos na si Saturn, na kumain sa kanyang mga anak upang masiguro ang kanyang kapangyarihan.
Isa ring pintor si Akerman, at nakapag-eksibit na siya sa mga bansang Argentina, Israel, Japan, at Pilipinas.
Iba’t iba man ang istilo, nanatili pa ring isang pagpapahayag ng mga ideya at damdamin ang sining—maging panlipunan, pulitikal, o personal man. Hindi hadlang ang lahi sa pagkaroon ng pagkakakilanlan, sapagka’t napatunayan ito ng sining na Belgian.

07.08.05 - Carmencita H. Acosta - What's On & Expat, Philippines
An Appointment with Art
Even as King Albert II of Belgium, on the occasion of the 175th anniversary of Belgian independence, was addressing his nation with a call for solidarity and a condemnation of the recent bombings in London, on the other side of the hemisphere, in the Philippine capital of Manila, the Belgian embassy was busy preparing for yet another appointment with the Muses. Belgian embassies throughout the world had their own respective styles of celebrating their red-letter day of July 28. In the Philippines, the Belgian embassy headed by Ambassador Christiaan Tanghe opted for a yearlong celebration of art and culture, for indeed, the Belgian artists of yesterday have left an indelible imprint in this area. [...] The project was spread out through the year, with a grand Art Appreciation Competition focusing on painter Magritte. The response from the youth was favorable and prizes where awarded last July 28 in ceremonies coinciding with the opening of a fortnight Belgian Art Exhibit.
[...] A selection of Belgian artworks from the 16th century onwards is on display [at the National Museum], A reproduction of Rubens introduces Manilans to the painter's four remarkable studies of a black man. An image by Brueghel the Elder depicts the story of Icarus. Two engravings recall the traditional façades of the buildings at the Grand Place in the Belgian capital of Brussels. The seascapes of Ensor and Spillaert portray mystery with their ambivalent figures. The Surrealist movement is represented in Delvaux's intriguing settings and Magritte's incongrous juxtapositions.
Young people frequenting bookstores will be somewhat surprised to see their favorite comic character, Tintin, together with Black and Mortimer. Yes, these are of Belgian origin. And, comic drawing, too, is an art.
Likewise included in the exhibit are 20 of the drawings and paintings of Mariano Akerman, an Argentine who presently resides in Manila and many of whose works were done in Brussels between 2001 and 2004.
Rightly did Belgium's King Albert II stress to his people, "We should remain open and continue to show solidarity." Manila's Belgian Embassy is doing a great job of following the royal exhortation by opening wide the doors of his artistic heritage for others to enter into the realm of the beautiful and the harmonious.

07.08.05 - Rosalinda L. Orosa - The Philippine Star, Manila
Significant Up-Dates
The Belgian Ambassador Christiaan Tanghe hosted in his residence the first of a series of lectures on Belgian art by art historian Mariano Akerman who then proceeded to give his last lecture at the National Museum on the subject, "Tradition and Innovation in the Visual Arts of Belgium—From Compassion to Provocation?"

09.09.05 - Lady Camille L. de Guia - The Varsitarian, Manila
Thomasians win in Essay Tilt
FOUR Advertising students from the College of Fine Arts and Design bagged the top spots in the Magritte in 175 Words Art Appreciation Competition last July. Advertising juniors Tracy Beverly Santuyo, Charleene Marzan, and Varsitarian Circle writer Florian Garcia, placed first, second, and third, respectively. While Hans Kristine Malang, also an Advertising junior, bagged the Special Prize. [...] The essay competition, organized by the Royal Belgian Embassy and the National Museum, is in line with Belgium’s celebration of its 175th year of independence. The awarding ceremony, headed by Belgian art historian Mariano Akerman, was held last July 25 at the National Museum. Prizes included books and plaques. Rene Magritte, a Belgian artist, is one of the most influential surrealist painters.