SORRY WE’RE CLOSED | NIKKI MALOOF | GUTTED | RETROSPECTION
The Munchies Art Club has been an ardent follower of the Belgian gallery Sorry We’re Closed, which we visited when we were in Brussels for the Art Brussels 2022.
Through the gallery we have discovered some awe-inspiring artists such as Eric Croes, Nikki Maloof, Jansson Stegner, and Matt Kleberg to name a few.
First attracted by the gallery's name, we soon came to recognise that their selection of artists was exactly the art we appreciate and their Instagram @sorrysorry_were_closed account shares content we truly enjoy.
It was on the top of our list for galleries in Brussels we wanted to visit.
Its owner Sébastien Janssen, comes from a background in the arts, born to the Belgian galerist and collector Stéphane Janssen.
His brother also followed in their father’s steps and is the owner of the prominent gallery, Rodolphe Janssen also situated in Brussels.
Sorry We’re Closed was first established in 2005.
It actually all began with a project room.
A white square 3,50 x 3,50 x 3,50 lit space, exhibiting artworks, visible through a window day and night.
In 2008, Sorry We're Closed moved to a bigger venue offering their artists more exhibition space.
Just recently, in 2021, the gallery moved again, doubling its space by moving into a breathtaking neoclassical villa in the very central district of Brussels called Sablon.
Sablon, is a charming area where art galleries, antique stores and corner bistros are to be found next to confectioners and chocolatiers.
In the past, prominent noblemen inhabited Sablon such as the Turn und Taxis family.
In the 19th century, the aristocracy left Sablon, spreading out to newer chicer districts of the time.
Not until the late 60s early 70s did Sablon set the foundation for what it is today, a popular artistic lively hub filled with historical architecture.
Visit Sablon and explore the galleries, shop at one of the many exquisite antique shops, eat sweet delicacies while you walk, sit and enjoy a meal and drink an ice cold Belgian beer in one of the many lovely restaurants there.
After all the distractions on our way to the gallery, we finally made it there.
We stood in front of the much photographed sign Sorry We’re Closed on a plaque to the right next to the door.
As we enter we read on our left in blue letters
Nikki Maloof
Gutted
Before us a spectacular foyer with a grand stairwell. Next to it, a large vase filled with long thin branches with small flowers.
The air smells of fresh paint.
We are welcomed by the director of the gallery, Émilie Pischedda.
After a brief exchange, we move on to the right into the rooms of the ground floor to see the exhibition that was on view at the time from American artist Nikki Maloof.
WOW! Pops through my head! The large impressive paintings, hanging on the high white-washed walls, formidable!
It totally flashed me.
Nikki Maloof's still-life paintings and drawings on view include gutted and sliced fish, crabs, and shrimps set with intricately drawn patterns found on wallpaper, the tablecloth, the dishes.
A large painting with the head of a butchered animal head sits on a plate, and next to it is the recurring meat grinder in Maloof's work, with pinkish string-like minced mixtures flowing from it.
Even though the subject matter would normally be unsightly, the artist achieves extraordinary artworks full of energy, colour and beauty.
I am mesmerised.
The exhibition continues above and we ascend up to the first floor where we are now welcomed by a statue reminding me of a Greek ancient deity.
A Circular wooden banister frames a circle that allows you to look down to the ground floor and up to a non accessible second floor.
What an amazing place.
Once again we enter two rooms one with a beautiful old fireplace and continue to highly enjoy the works of the artist Maloof.
We stay longer than we usually do.
The work is full of such interesting details, it's hard to pull away.
The exhibition is no longer on view.
We were lucky to catch it before it closed.
I strongly recommend art lovers when in Brussels to take the time to visit the Sablon district and make sure to visit the Sorry We're Closed gallery and see what they are showing.
NEXT UP FROM 19.05.2022 TILL 09.07.2022
The solo exhibition called Mud Made Monsters from the artist Jameson Green.
