Mima, a museum in Molenbeek

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Mima is located in an old brewery on the river, in Molenbeek

Mima is located in an old brewery on the river, in Molenbeek

Opening a private museum of contemporary art in Molenbeek, three weeks after the terrorist attacks in Brussels, is pretty daring, and Alice van den Abeele, the director, and Michel de Launoit the owner, could not contain their joy after the first day ; 2 500 visitors had been curious enough to come to MIMA (Millennium Iconoclast Museum of Art) on April 15 th.
We were there the next day for a very nice slice of pizza from Mamma Pizza (apparently the chicest one in Brussels) and the lovely discovery of five American artists who had been selected for the first exhibition : « City Lights ».

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Alice van den Abeele, the director, and Michel de Launoit, the owner, in front of Maya Hayuk’s painting

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Swoon has startling frescoes in the basement

There is a strong will for being playful (ludique) a little like Charlie Chaplin who inspired the title of the show. And everything seems fun in this former brewery set on the river in Molenbeek. The welcome was overly nice and the series of works shown on four floors is fun, inspiring and unpretentious.

Momo paints large walls and creates striking videos

Momo paints large walls and creates striking videos

I particularly liked Swoon’s work in the basement. She draws on the walls and uses paper cut outs to create new universes. Maya Hayuk’s bright colored paintings in the cafeteria reminded me distantly of Richard Serra and I liked Momo’s large wall and videos. Faile, the association of two artists, created a humorous house on the third floor.
MIMA is an adventure started by the Launoit couple to revamp this area of  canal du Hainaut. It reminds me of Paris Canal St Martin’s atmosphere and of the Tate Modern in London. The building is obviously the new place to be with the artsy hotel Meininger next door. It has a fantastic view from the top of the building and was the hot spot where to be, during Art Brussels. A place to watch.

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