For Art Brussels Insights, we spoke with Tim Van Laere about the 20th anniversary of his gallery and his new space in Antwerp that opens in April.
How would you describe the programme and vision of your gallery?
I regard the gallery as an artist’s gallery, where our main task is to guide artists. We represent a mix of internationally established artists and young emerging artists who each have their own world and vision.
The gallery celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2018. How do you look back at this period?
We’ve been located in the Verlatstraat for 20 years, where we had a lot of memorable shows such as The Last Waltz (For Leon) that marked the end of a chapter and a festive farewell to our space in the Verlatstraat. That space is where it all began. It wasn’t always easy in the beginning, you really had to start things from the ground up, but I always believed in our artists, the gallery, our team and myself. In recent years we began to notice more and more that the space didn’t suit the ambitions of the gallery and artists anymore. So it’s time to start a new chapter in a new space.
In April the gallery is moving to a new building in Antwerp designed by OFFICE Kersten Geers David Van Severen. What are the ambitions for this space?
It was very important to find a good collaboration with an architectural firm that understood how to design a building that really stands in function of art and the artists. We found this collaboration with OFFICE Kersten Geers David Van Severen. After a few inspiring dialogues they made a simple but very powerful design. It is an independent freestanding building, which is also symbolic of what we are: an autonomous artist’s gallery. I believe that this building will add even more possibilities and strength to our programme. I am already looking forward to the exhibitions that will take place there. With this space I hope to inspire many people, and especially young artists, with our programme.
What will you be presenting at Art Brussels 2019?
Armen Eloyan, Kati Heck, Anton Henning, Friedrich Kunath, Gelatin, Edward Lipski, Jonathan Meese, Ryan Mosley, Tal R, Ben Sledsens, Ed Templeton, Rinus Van de Velde and Franz West.
Do you have any advice for young, aspiring art collectors?
I would advise them to look as much as they can at art and visit a lot of museum and gallery shows.
Images by order of appearance:
– Tim Van Laere, Courtesy Tim Van Laere Gallery, Antwerp
– New gallery space of Tim Van Laere Gallery at Nieuw Zuid in Antwerp, Courtesy Tim Van Laere Gallery, Antwerp
– installation view The Last Waltz (For Leon), Tim Van Laere Gallery, Antwerp, 2019, Courtesy Tim Van Laere Gallery, Antwerp
– installation view The Last Waltz (For Leon), Tim Van Laere Gallery, Antwerp, 2019, Courtesy Tim Van Laere Gallery, Antwerp