Michaël Borremans: The Performance

Parasol unit, a new foundation for contemporary art based in London’s East End, will be launched on 4 May, 2005 with an exhibition of paintings by the acclaimed Belgian artist, Michaël Borremans. The exhibition is being mounted in collaboration with the Stedelijk Museum voor Actuele Kunst (SMAK) in Ghent, Belgium and the Royal Hibernian Academy in Dublin, Ireland.

Michaël Borremans’ work has gained acclaim in the international art world over recent years, but this is the first time his work will be shown in the UK. The exhibition follows other recent exhibits by contemporary Belgian painters Raoul de Keyser at the Whitechapel Art Gallery in 2003 and Luc Tuymans at Tate Modern in 2004. Born in 1963, Borremans lives and works in Ghent. In 2004 his work was shown in Manifesta 5: European Biennale of Contemporary Art, San Sebastian, Spain and a touring exhibition of his drawings was organised by the Kunstmuseum Basel, SMAK in Ghent and the Cleveland Museum of Art, Ohio. The painting exhibition opened in Ghent in February 2005 and after the showing in London will travel to the Royal Hibernian Academy in Dublin. A full colour book has been published by Hatje Cantz Verlag to accompany the painting exhibition.

Michaël Borremans’ exhibition will be complimented by a programme of events including the screening of André De Toth’s 1953 ‘House of Wax’ followed by a discussion between the artist and the art critic Adrian Searle. This event will be a collaboration with Artprojx and will take place on Monday 16 May at the Prince Charles Cinema. Other events will be announced in due course and could be also found on Parasol unit foundation for contemporary art’s website.

Parasol unit foundation for contemporary art will be housed in a new 800-square metre space on two floors, located next to the Victoria Miro Gallery in Wharf Road, N1. Designed by architect Claudio Silvestrin, the space will open in two stages: the main ground-floor gallery opens in May 2005 and the remaining areas of the building, including an artist-in-residence studio and reading area, in September 2005. The foundation is the brainchild of its founder and director, Ziba Ardalan. The not-for-profit space is funded by an endowment with additional support from sponsors and in-kind.