Art curator Devrim Bayar has made a conscious choice to stay in the city she was brought up in. Large green areas and cultural diversity are strong reasons for her to stick around. To her, Brussels represents a healthy and happy mess.
What are your first memories of Brussels and your activities here as a child?
I grew up in Ixelles in the 80’s when the city was very different. We moved around quite a bit during my childhood but always on the south side of Brussels, in Uccle and Saint-Gilles. Later I also lived in the city centre and in Anderlecht. Saint-Gilles is the borough where I feel most at home. This is where my girls go to school, where I do my local grocery shopping, where I often hang out. I currently live in a well-known 1960’s tower building with 120 apartments which almost feels like a city in the city. The tower inhabitants are very diverse, there are older people who’ve lived there for decades and new families. I have several friends living in the same building which feels great; like a small community.
I’ve always lived in apartments so I’ve been going to the parcs from an early age. Bois de La Cambre was my garden as a small girl. I was out there every day, celebrated all my birthdays, played around with friends and met up with the scouts. Nowadays, I often go to Parc de Forest, Parc Duden, Parc Royal for Kiosk radio or to the Forêt de Soignes. I sometimes go to the Parc Tournay-Solvay or Parc de Wolvendael. The access to green spaces is one of the great advantages of living in Brussels. As opposed to a private garden, the park is a social space; you see and meet other people. I often take my own girls to the parks where they can play with other kids. Place Morichar is also one of our hotspots; it’s great for skating, biking, ping-pong, basketball… and it has a great sunset view.
You’ve been living in Brussels most of your life yet you work in the art world which could have taken you to many places professionally. Why have you chosen to stay here and what do you think attracts other people to move here?
Brussels is a melting pot with a lot of different people coming and going. The city is in constant flux which is one of the reasons why I like to live here. You always meet new people from different horizons. Also, Brussels is centrally located in Europe and well connected with public transport, making it easy to travel in and out of the city. Of course, I’ve asked myself several times whether I wanted to stay or move elsewhere but I still come to the conclusion that this city is a great base for me to work and to raise family. Life here is not as stressful as in other European capitals. But practical considerations aside, I’ve also never really projected myself in a pretty place; I feel good in the mess. Reality is hard and Brussels is a reflection of that too. Life is not always beautiful, smooth or well organised; quite the contrary. It may sound odd but I don’t want to live in a bubble of perfection. I want to show my children the many facets of life and Brussels feels like a good mix.
You worked as a curator at WIELS for many years and recently you were appointed senior curator at the new museum KANAL-Centre Pompidou. Can you describe your path through the art scene?
I first studied art history at the Université Libre de Bruxelles and then at Columbia University in New York where I completed a Master in curatorial studies and an internship at MoMA PS1. To be honest, I came back to Brussels a bit by chance. A friend had told me about a new art centre – WIELS – which was about open, and my partner had just moved to the city to study so it felt like a perfect coincidence. I contacted the then small team and the chief curator was interested in my profile. She hired me for her maternity cover during 6 months and I ended up staying 15 years! It’s a great institution with which I grew and where I learned a lot. But after so many years, I felt I needed a new context to keep evolving.
Like WIELS, KANAL is located in an industrial building from the 1930s which is currently undergoing a thorough renovation. At KANAL I have been hired to develop the exhibition programme but also to build and manage the curatorial team and to take part in the development of a new public collection. KANAL is a much bigger institution and the team too. The museum will open up end of 2025 and still has to prove itself but I’m already very happy to be involved in such an ambitious project with a great team. As it is a completely new institution, of a massive scale, it raises questions and even fear sometimes, but criticism can be healthy. We know we are accountable.
While the building is under renovation, we have a temporary space on the other side of the canal, where we program mostly time-based events, such as performances, live music, conferences. End of November, we’ll have a queer art book fair. Our program is still very modest compared to what is coming up in a year and a half. KANAL will be a major art space in the city, with exhibitions of modern and contemporary art, collection displays, performances, lectures, kids activities, a public library, several restaurants, cafés. I’m extremely proud to be part of an institution that will change the cultural landscape of the city I was born and raised in.
With such an insight into the art scene in Brussels, how would you describe it?
The Brussels art scene is very multicultural and dynamic. There are artists from many parts of the world. Several institutions fostered the diversity of the local art scene, such as WIELS and its residency programme or ROSAS and PARTS, respectively the dance company and the school founded by Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker. Young artists, students, dancers come to Brussels to work or study and finally decide to stay. The art or cinema schools like La Cambre, LUCA’s, INSAS etc. also attract young artists from abroad. Brussels is a relatively small capital which helps create a sense of familiarity or belonging for newcomers. Some used to say that Brussels was the new Berlin, yet it’s quite different. Berlin remains very German while Brussels was always a sort of bastard child, always searching for its identity. Which is also probably why artists feel at home here. There’s a sense of freedom.
_
Devrim is one of the 73 locals who has generously contributed to our city guide 'Brussels by locals' by sharing her favourite spots in town.
Pictures by Stephanie De Smet