BRAFA: Enduring magic

By Anna van Densky, Brussels

The startling, vibrant and ever-young Brussels Antique and Art Fair (BRAFA) celebrates its 60th edition, offering a firework display of masterpieces from civilizations, cultures and contemporary challenging creations - a rich palette of artifacts to satisfy the most refined taste. Belgian art also remains a point of inspiration and the core of the event: from Flemish primitives to mysterious canvases of 20th century surrealists,  suggesting BRAFA's geographic choice as a zenith of a long-standing tradition for the admiration of artistic creations. Today increasingly international, BRAFA neverthless remains genuinely Belgian, experiencing artistic genius with both Flemish introvert depth and French flamboyance. Whatever the focus of the art-lover, BRAFA remains exquisite in each instance – an unrivalled aesthetic adventure.

An artifact is never a product, but rather a piece of history, says BRAFA's President Harold t'Kint de Roodenbeke, claiming that one cannot be a successful art-dealer without being a collector and art-lover at the same time. From that point of view, the fair was organized by collectors and for collectors, however it has developed into an outstanding art expo attracting increasing numbers of visitors, who are eager to inhale the lavish atmosphere of art treasures.

Last year, the numbers reached 55,000 art pilgrims, but this is certainly not a limit, as the flow of visitors is growing, along with the number of collectors.

However on the occasion of its 60th vernissage, BRAFA's organizers have chosen to honour 'the Belgian collector' – the initiators and guardians of the fair: "Breaking with tradition to invite a museum or cultural institution, BRAFA places this year in honour of the Belgian collectors' loyalty, which has been much appreciated over the years."

Upon request, the King Baudouin Foundation will select and present private collections to provide a true picture of the diversity and quality of private fine arts in Belgium.

Ten sets of art pieces, assembled with savoir faire and passion, will be offered to visitors in the exceptional setting of the anniversary fair, in a display presenting design and combining modern light graphics and decoration.

Traditionally, the fair is sensitive to the creation of the decorum of a setting corresponding to each object, facilitating contact with a creation of distant epochs or ancient civilizations. From the glitter of the mirrors from the ballrooms to emphasize the Louis-Philippe furniture or soft velvety darkness of shadows to underline the mystery of the ancient Greek busts – every stand is a universe apart, inspiring reflections on the aesthetics of a particular period or time, the framework of the artist's genesis.

This year, the anniversary fair visitor will have a unique chance to admire the world of private collections of ancient and modern paintings, silver work, primary art, decorative art, ancient drawings and books, including such great names as Flemish Van Dyck and Jordaens, but also modern US artist Sam Francis and exquisite canvases from Belgian surrealist Paul Delvaux. All of the artifacts are splendid masterpieces, rarely made available to the public eye.

Arts longa, vita brevis, so those who are not in a possession of a thick wallet to purchase a masterpiece, can still enjoy the glossy catalogue and a glass of champagne in an artistically decorated cafe, or a debate on fine arts with a professional. Apparently, talking arts does not have the same impact on economy as purchasing, but art still has the a capacity to connect people across differences of age, geography and cultural traditions. True and enduring magic – so BRAFA Art Fair is.

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