Harry Gruyaert
Subtitle: Café Belgica
By: author Roger Szmulewicz, Stephan Vanfleteren
Contributors: Szmulewicz, Roger, author; Vanfleteren, Stephan, 1969- author
Publisher: Galerie Fifty One
Published: 2021
Place of publication: Antwerp, Belgium
Language: eng
Number of pages: 100
ISBN-13: 9789463883252
Subjects: Artistic Photography; Bars (Drinking establishments) in art
Other titles: Café Belgica
Description: We Belgians are used to seeing people have fun, get drunk, dance or do whatever else they please in this temple of emotions. To sober outsiders, cafés are an enigmatic territory, where a miracle potion is served. It's Harry instead of Asterix chez les Belges. In all likelihood, the photographer had to leave his comfort zone to better understand it. Taking a step back to see the bigger picture. Leaving to arrive. It's ironic that no other Belgian was able to preserve this culture as brilliantly as Gruyaert. I used the word preserve on purpose. Unlinke wine, beer is not stored. It is consumed as soon as possible. Perhaps that's why beer drinkers are so impatient when they're thirsty." (Stephan Vanfleteren, from his introduction to the new Fifty One Publication 'Café Belgica' by Harry Gruyaert)