390 years after Rubens, Jan Fabre's altarpieces enter St. Augustine's church in Antwerp

Exactly 390 years after the creation of the altarpieces for the church of St. Augustine in Antwerp, commissioned by theOrder of Augustinians from the three greatest great Flemish artists of the time, namely Pieter Paul Rubens (Siegen, 1577 - Antwerp, 1640), Jacob Jordaens (Antwerp, 1593 - 1678) and Antoon Van Dyck (Antwerp, 1599 - London, 1641), new altarpieces enrich the building, now no longer a church but the home of AMUZ - Auditorium della Musica, which has been organizing the Laus Polyphoniae festival dedicated to early music for 25 years. The honor fell to the great Jan Fabre (Antwerp, 1958), who was commissioned to “translate” the three Baroque masterpieces by seventeenth-century masters into the language of contemporary art by creating three new altarpieces, contemporary and monumental.

“Eclectic and Rubensian, globally known for projects integrating different art forms,” the presentation reads, "Fabre brings together in his three works The monastic performance, The mystic contract and The ecstatic recording the key elements of his art: the lamb, fire, the female figure, spirituality and finally diamonds, a tribute to Antwerp, his hometown. The language is exuberant and ecstatic, in the Baroque tradition. Singular is the choice of materials: emerald green armor belonging to beetles of the Buprestidae family, already used by Fabre to decorate the ceiling of the Hall of Mirrors of the Royal Palace in Brussels with the permanent sculpture Heaven of Delight. The action of light on this unusual material creates an incredible chromatic effect, with different shades and suggestions depending on the inclination and intensity of the light beam."

Fabre’s works are on display at AMUZ from today, Tuesday, July 3, 2018, until Dec. 10, 2018. The exhibition is part of the program Antwerp Baroque 2018. Rubens inspires, which includes performances of visual art, dance and music in the city’s monumental churches, namely St. Charles Borromeo, St. Andrew, St. Paul and St. James, as well as the Cathedral of Our Lady. Hours: July 3 to Aug. 9 on Mondays from 2 to 8 p.m.; Tuesday to Friday from 2 to 5 p.m. From Sept. 3 to Dec. 10 open on Mondays from 2 to 8 p.m. For more information you can visit the AMUZ website. In addition, collaged sketches of Jan Fabre’s three altarpieces are on display from July 6 to November 4, 2018, at the Rossaert Art Gallery in Antwerp.

Pictured: Jan Fabre’s altarpieces for St. Augustine’s Church in Antwerp.

390 years after Rubens, Jan Fabre's altarpieces enter St. Augustine's church in Antwerp

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