The Constant Now

OPEN CALL. We are looking for artists of color working and living in Belgium. Are you under 30, active in the visual arts, looking for ways to broaden your network and skillset, and open to meeting other like-minded artists? POC POC 2 is The Constant Now's network and experimental platform that connects artists with art professionals. We aim to create opportunities and collaborations through private sessions, workshops, lectures and location visits.

Apply before Jan 15 via [email protected]

More info: https://www.theconstantnow.com/pocpoc2

Last days to visit the group show 'No Images' with Sadrie Alves, Gladys Bukolo, Maria E André, Subin Son, Lou Cocody-Valentino, Rose-Myrtha Vercammen, and Noam Youngrak Son.

'NOPE, the personal isn't always political, 2022' by Noam Youngrak Son.
Digital print, thermal printer

"The reflective surfaces that the poet William Waring Cuney depicted in the poem 'No Images' have been rapidly commodified in the time of surveillance capitalism and have become a smartphone screen. An Instagram feed flows like 'the river', at the same time gets endlessly refreshed like 'dish water'. In this media environment, even when a dishwasher girl can see the reflection of herself, it is very unlikely that she will realize her beauty. It will rather profit those who put price tags on her dancing naked brown body and exotic palm trees. How can these bodies in the frame find their agency?" - Noam Youngrak Son

Photos by Noam Youngrak Son.

And tonight, we're invited by LUCA School of Arts in Brussels to talk about our coaching program POC POC. Join us between 18 and 20h. Entrance is free.

Moderator Sorana Munsya with Magali Elali, Marie Gomis-Trezise, Sadrie Alves en Lou Cocody-Valentino.

https://www.luca-arts.be/nl/school-equals-talks-the-constant-now

School of Equals TALKS - The Constant Now | LUCA Talk about 'The Constant Now' as a coaching program & a conversation on the position of artists of color in art education and the artistic landscape.

Last day to visit the group show FREETOWN with artists Sadrie Alves, Gladys Bukolo, Lou Cocody-Valentino, Maria E André, Awa Gaye, Gaëlle Mwamba, Hussein Shikha, and Subin Son. The gallery fuggerstraat26 at Fuggerstraat 26 in Antwerp is open from 14 till 18h. Come and say hi, before it's too late.

Installation views by KEEN.

Thank you for coming to the opening to FREETOWN . The group show is on view till October 30, open from Thursday till Sunday, 14-18h at Fuggerstraat 26 in Antwerp.

Participating artists:
Gladys Bukolo
Lou Cocody-Valentino
Maria E André
Awa Gaye
Gaëlle Mwamba
Hussein Shikha
Subin Son

Curator: Magali Elali

FREETOWN is a group show and first presentation of the coaching program POC POC that links artists of color with art professionals. This year's coaches: Karen Van Godtsenhoven, Marie Gomis-Tresize, Helena Kritis, and Sofia Dati.

Installing the new group show FREETOWN with artist Lou Cocody-Valentino who is part of our coaching programme POC POC. Join us at the opening on Thursday 13 October with drinks and live performances between 17 and 21h at Fuggerstraat 26.

Installing the new group show FREETOWN with textile artist Maria E André. The care and dedication she puts in her work are incredible. See you at the opening event on Thursday 13 October, with performances between 17 and 21h.

New event! FREETOWN opens on Thursday 13 October at Fuggerstraat 26 in Antwerp. Group show and first presentation of our coaching programme POC POC with
Sadrie Alves
Gladys Bukolo
Lou Cocody-Valentino
Maria E André
Awa Gaye
Gaëlle Mwamba
Hussein Shikha
Subin Son

Curator: Magali Elali
Coaches: Karen Van Godtsenhoven, Marie Gomis-Tresize, Helena Kristis, and Sofia Dati

Opening event: 17-21h with live woodblock printing by Sadrie Alves & Hussein Shikha. And performance by Subin Son at 20h.

As part of their 'Zomer in de Kloostertuin' series, Extra City has invited us to host a workshop and performance in their magnificent garden. Noam Youngrak Son will do a workshop, while Awa Gaye, Lou Cocody-Valentino, Subin Son and Rose-Myrtha Vercammen will perform an intercultural celebration of shared stories, drawing from domestic ceremonies and rituals ranging from Korea to Brazil.
All artists are part of the POC POC coaching program. Join us!
https://extracitykunsthal.org/tentoonstellingen/zomer-in-de-kloostertuin

FREETOWN is a contemporary art village at Fire Is Gold Festival on Saturday, September 3rd. We're looking for volunteers familiar with art, who are willing to guard the artworks and communicate with the visitors. What you get in return is a volunteer fee, a free ticket to the festival and drinks. Send a quick note to [email protected]

Welcome! We are delighted to announce a new board member. Sorana Munsya is a psychologist and independent curator (Lubumbashi Biennale of Contemporary Art, Extra City, Bozar, Kanal Pompidou, Horst,..) She will assist us in further developing our curatorial practice and strengthen our link with Brussels, which will enable us to cover more ground in Belgium.

The board now consists of Cynthia Schenkels, Karen Van Godtsenhoven, Magali Elali and Sorana Munsya.

Don't forget. Today's the second last day to visit the group show REAL/UNREAL curated by Magali Elali. When social norms are challenged, do you naturally create new ones? While Ugo Woatzi explores the concept of masculinity in the q***r community, Gilles Mayk Navangi reinterprets the history of African civilisations and corresponding stereotypes.

Eloko Mibalé, 2021
Paper mache and varnish
75 x 75 x 130


Mask, 2019
UV print on aluminium plate
framed without glass
100 x 150 cm


Installation view by

***rart

Join us this Saturday for the finissage: a talk with Ugo Woatzi at 17:00. The q***r visual artist sees the political potential in aesthetics. He infuses a subtle form of activism in his images, using delicate fabrics and florals to reframe the q***r body. The artist talk is free and followed by drinks. No registration needed. These photos were taken during a studio visit.

Three more days to visit REAL /UNREAL. The gallery is open from Thursday to Saturday, 14:00 to 18:00.

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'On point, beautiful, dynamic, colorful, refreshing mix of seriousness and humor.' The group show REAL/UNREAL appeals in many ways to our visitors. Come and experience it for yourself. This week is your last chance to visit the exhibition. We're open from Thursday to Saturday, 14:00 tot 18:00. Entrance is free, no reservations needed. On Saturday we have a finissage talk with visual artist Ugo Woatzi, followed by drinks and tunes. Hope to see you soon. 👋🏽

Installation view by

Q***r, q***r, hooray! When we address diversity in the visual arts scene, we don't just talk about ethnic background. We reach out to all of those who have been left out of the conversation. In our new group show, REAL/UNREAL q***r photographer Ugo Woatzi will be showing his 'Chameleon' series. By exploring the camouflage methods of the q***r community in Belgium, he celebrates their beauty, so that acceptance and the dream may triumph. These shots were taken in his studio.

REAL/UNREAL is part of Antwerp Art Weekend and opens on Wed, 25 May at 19:00.

Hope to see you there.

On Wednesday, 25 May, at 20:00 artist Ndayé Kouagou will perform live during the opening of our new group show REAL/UNREAL.

Kouagou is a master at storytelling. From 11:00 to 13:00, he'll share his secrets about how he navigates the art world as a black performer and visual artist. The animated workshop is open to artists who are part of the POC POC program; to others who wish to attend: please send us an email at [email protected]

REAL/UNREAL is part of Antwerp Art Weekend 2022. It opens on 25 May and runs till 11 June at Fuggerstraat 26, Antwerp.
https://www.facebook.com/events/489019189619660/489041399617439.

"It's by being exclusive we can make the art scene more inclusive." The Constant Now's artistic director Magali Elali discusses the lack of diversity in the Belgian art scene, what it can do to be more inclusive, and the prejudices people of color face these days. Sharp interview in Flair magazine by Hinda House and photos by Marie Monsieur.