On Thursday, Jaouad Alloul and his fiancé Jeroen Vanluyten opened their exhibition ‘In The Mood For Love‘ in Brussels.

Hosted by huisvandeMens, home of Vrijzinnig Brussel, Brussels’ free-thinkers’ organisation, the compact exhibition showcases some male queer art exploring male homosexual intimacy, (gender) roles, kinks, sex, desire and love.

Unapologetic gay, homoerotic art is quite rare. Yes there is the David Hockney exhibition at Bozar. Yes, there is the ‘Masculinities: Liberation through Photography‘ at FoMu in Antwerp. But even then, you don’t see that many artistically responsible homoerotic art. 

In the mood

The exhibition space at Sainctelettesquare 17 – it’s walking distance from Brussels-North Railway Station – is not big, but Alloul and Vanluyten tried to create spaces in the one space. Several artists display their work

• Saskia van den Boom from Amsterdam photographed couples and threesomes.
• Sander Cornelis and Erlend Mortier from Antwerp design stain glass art. Guys in briefs, a huge blooming, cock, a cheeky bum or a gay Jesus.
• Fullmano works with queer beards.
• Studio Stoutpoep makes daring and humoristic illustrations, often playing with toxic masculinity.  
• Tale of Men photographed Jaouad and Jeroen having sex.
• Charles-Elie Chauvaux from Brussels plays with the theme of gay sexual cruising with very explicit drawings. 

There are also collaborations with some sexual health and health institutions. Sensoa provided condoms and dildos to practice your condom-applying skills. Drug and alcohol prevention institution VAD displays information on drugs in the toilets. Substances (ab)use is an issue in the gay scene. 

Kartonnen Dozen has a book stand. Geert Claes and sex toys brand Bold Humans lure you to their makeshift bedroom. There are showcases of bondage and of pole dancing.

Now the vernissage is over, you can book a spot on the many workshops ‘In The Mood For Love‘ has to offer. At least as long as coronavirus countermeasures allow this.  

Practical information. 

Exploring Brussels

• Inside the Royal Palace of Brussels.
• REVIEW | Orient-Express exhibition at Train World, Brussels’ railway museum.
• REVIEW | Louis de Funès exhibition at Cinéma Palace Brussels.
• REVIEW | David Hockney double exhibition at Bozar Brussels’ arts museum.
• The orange world of Design Museum Brussels.
• Brussels Planetarium.
• Brussels’ Gare Maritime.
• REVIEW | Comics Art Museum Brussels by the Belgian Comic Strips Center.
• Brussels’ Pannenhuis Park and L28 Park.
• Brussels’ Senne Park.
• The Hotel. Brussels.
• REVIEW | Train World exhibition ‘From Peking to Hankow: a Belgian adventure in China’.
• Ducal and Imperial Palace of Coudenberg in Brussels.
• MIMA – Millennium Iconoclast Museum of Art in Brussels.
• Villa Empain in Brussels.
• Pullman Brussels Centre Midi.
• Autoworld automobile museum in Brussels.
• Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History in Brussels, Belgium.
• REVIEW | Thalys Lounge at Brussels South/Midi station.
• PHOTOS | Train World railway museum in Brussels.