This week's Long Weekender delves into the European Motor Show, the Antiques and Fine Arts Fair and Jimmy Eat World at the AB

5 to 27 January 2008
The European Motor Show Brussels 2008

The eye-catching items at the European Motor Show Brussels are obviously the new cars, motorcycles and accessories, but there is much more than that.

This year the the organisers e focusing specifically on the environmental theme.

This will enable visitors to familiarise thmeselves with the latest environmental technology as well as drive a car running on biofuel or using a hybrid power unit yourself.

They will also be given a few simple tips on how to reduce a car’s fuel consumption and thus contribute to reducing CO2 emissions.

This is the 86th Motorcar & Motorcycle Show, this time under the name: the European Motor Show Brussels, 2008.

This name signals the ambition of Brussels to further strengthen its position as major motor show in the capital of Europe. Brussels is as a matter of fact Europe’s first motor show of the year, and as such aims at attracting a larger number of product launches.

The Motor Show will the showcase the motorcar and motorcycle industries and welcome over 700.000 expected visitors.

The European Motor Show Brussels 2008 will emphasize the major theme of “Ecology”.

Openingshours Every day:  10:00-20:00 

Brussels Expo

18 to 27 January 2008
 53rd ANTIQUES AND FINE ARTS FAIR OF BELGIUM

Around 130 Belgian and foreign exhibitors will share this 12,400 square metre exhibition space to welcome a wide-ranging public, from museum curators to keen collectors or simple art lovers. This foremost Belgian Fair is now established as a top international event, creating a unique place in the international calendar.

The 2008 event is distinguished by an increase in the number of foreign exhibitors, who now constitute 51% of all participants. These exhibitors will come to Brussels from France, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Monaco, Great Britain, Spain, Italy and Luxembourg. Newcomers to the Fair this year include Bérès (19th- and 20th-century paintings and drawings), Chevalier (ancient and modern tapestries), Eric Coatalem (paintings, drawings and sculptures by French masters of the 17th - 20th centuries), Zlotowski (20th-century paintings), Fabienne Fiacre (Old Master paintings) and Cybèle (books and Egyptology), all from France, who will be joined by Giulia Canepa Antiquités (Old Master painting) from Monaco, Finch & Co (ethnography and curiosities) from the United Kingdom, Antichitta di Maurizio Nobile (furniture, paintings and objets d’art from the 18th and 19th centuries) from Italy, Kunsthandel Michael Nolte (Louis XV, Louis XVI, Empire) from Germany and Jorge Portuondo Wakkonig (furniture, objets d’art, clocks, watches, and sculptures from the 14th to 19th centuries) from Spain.


TOUR & TAXIS avenue du Port 86C / B - 1000 Brussels

Also at the Fair, a special exhibition:

“The Legend of Alexander the Great” - An outstanding pair of 15th century Tournai tapestries from the Princes Doria Pamphilj Collection 

 This pair of magnificent tapestries depicting the story of Alexander the Great belongs to the Princes Doria Pamphilj Collection in the Palazzo del Principe in Genoa. They are spectacular not only in terms of composition and design, but also in their technical aspect and colour palette. They are unquestionably among the finest examples of 15th century tapestries to survive.

The first tapestry illustrates the adolescence of Alexander, when he tames his stallion Bucephalus and wins his first military victories. This episode culminates with the crowning of Alexander by his dying father. Alexander's further illustrious deeds unfold on the second work, where Alexander conquers an oriental city with his troops. His later adventures are  even more extraordinary: he explores the skies in a cage, drawn by griffons, then subsequently descends to the ocean’s depths in a glass vessel,  and finally journeys to the end of the world,  inhabited by wild men and dragons. Alexander’s rich costumes and weaponry are intended to evoke the splendour and refined civilisation of the Burgundian period in contrast with the more coarse portrayal of the oriental characters, depicted as barbarians with their long beards.

The present pair of tapestries was probably produced in the Tournai workshops of Pasquier Grenier around 1460, during the golden age of the tapestry industry in this city. Archival documents indicate that Pasquier Grenier supplied several tapestry sets of  the Legend of Alexander, not only to Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, but also to Italian Princes.

These two tapestries form a monumental complete set of almost 20 m long and most likely belonged to Admiral Andrea Doria, who led Charles V’s fleet in his ongoing battle with the Turks for supremacy in the Mediterranean.

Both hangings were in very poor condition and were difficult to read. The Royal Manufacturers De Wit in Mechelen have successfully managed to restore these hangings, thanks to the generous support of the Antiques and Fine Arts Fair of Belgium. A subtle aerosol cleaning and overall stabilisation of the threads have returned both tapestries to their former splendour.  (Text Anna Rapp Buri and Monica Stucky-Schürer).

TOUR & TAXIS avenue du Port 86C / B - 1000 Brussels

 28 January 2008, 20h00

JIMMY EAT WORLD  

After the success of their 2004 album 'Futures' and their ensuing tours with Taking Back Sunday and Green Day, the American 4-piece JIMMY EAT WORLD regrouped in Arizona to work on the album's successor. That sixth studio album is now ready, has been given the title of 'Chase This Light', and owes its excellent sound to top producer Butch Vig (Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins). The fabulous single 'Big Casino' was a knockout foretaste of things to come.

Formed in Mesa, Arizona, in 1993, Jimmy Eat World has come a long way. Having learned the ropes as a punk rock band with Fugazi and Sunny Day Real Estate, the 4-piece went on to develop the blueprint for what we know today as emo. In 2001 after the release of 'Bleed American', singer/guitarist Jim Adkins & co became the first big emo band in the pre-MySpace period, and made it possible for several bands from that scene to break through to a larger public.

The previously announced SAVES THE DAY will be replaced by the Australian SPARKADIA, an indie pop band in the mould of The Police and the darker side of Echo & The Bunnymen.

Ancienne Belgique ASBL - av. Anspachlaan 110 - 1000 Bxl