Ostend (The Brussels Morning Newspaper): In 2024, Ostend celebrates James Ensor’s 75th anniversary with over 100 events and exhibitions, attracting 250,000 visitors. The Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp will showcase his contributions to modern art.
The festive year for James Ensor in Ostend just finished, celebrating 75 years since the famous painter passed away. Throughout the past few months, the city organized many activities and exhibitions to honor his life and art, trying to bring back his memory to the people of Ostend, where he spent a lot of time. Big exhibitions showcased Ensor’s well-known paintings, highlighting his special style that combines surrealism and symbolism. There were also guided tours, workshops, and lectures that looked into his influence on art.
What recent events celebrated James Ensor’s legacy in Ostend and Antwerp?
It has been said that the recent celebrations for James Ensor were really exciting, with public art displays and performances that made the city lively. These activities brought together local people and visitors, helping everyone enjoy his art and see how important it is to Ostend. The events successfully honored Ensor’s influence on art and kept his memory alive for the future. About 250,000 people visited the exhibitions, showing that he’s still a big deal in the art world. Last Saturday, Ostend officially passed the “Ensor torch” to the director of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp, starting a new way to celebrate Ensor’s legacy.
Next week, the Royal Museum will start a temporary exhibition about James Ensor, showcasing his unique art style and important contributions. This collaboration between Ostend and Antwerp highlights Ensor’s significance to both cities and to Belgium as a whole. Many people are expected to visit the exhibition, keeping the excitement alive from earlier events. On 22nd September a special event took place where a group of walkers set off for Antwerp with a bathing carriage inspired by one of Ensor’s paintings, created by students from the Ensor Institute. Over the next few days, they will walk through Bruges, Ghent, and Sint-Niklaas, learning about the exhibitions and enjoying fun activities related to Ensor. There will also be performances at each stop to engage the local community, and the procession will start at the Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp, ending with the carriage displayed in front of KMSKA on 25th September Wednesday.
