Art Matters with Mandy El-Sayegh
Art Matters with Mandy El-Sayegh
Art

Mon. June 16, 12:15PM

Art Matters with Mandy El-Sayegh

Join Kendell Geers for this month’s Art Matters luncheon with Mandy El-Sayegh, the artist behind the wallpaper installation currently on view at TheMerode.

Mandy El-Sayegh is a globally recognized contemporary artist whose work tackles some of the most urgent social and political issues of our time. Born in Malaysia to a Chinese mother and a Palestinian father, her richly layered practice reflects a complex cultural heritage that informs every aspect of her art.


El-Sayegh’s process—what she calls “suturing and bruising”—weaves together imagery from popular magazines, newspaper fragments, anatomical illustrations, and both Chinese and Arabic calligraphy. Through this unique visual language, she transforms difficult themes into works of striking beauty and emotional depth, highlighting the healing possibilities of artistic expression.


Join us at the next Art Matters lunch for a compelling conversation between Mandy El-Sayegh and Kendell Geers. Together, they will explore how art has served as a vital tool for managing depression and severe anxiety, particularly in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Mental health remains a central concern in both artists’ practices—and a powerful reason why Art Matters.


Mandy El-Sayegh’s ”Figured Ground”, 2024,  a large-scale wallpaper work, is currently on view at TheMerode in the Black&White Salon, where this Art Matters lunch will take place.

speaker

Mandy El-Sayegh

Mandy El-Sayegh is a Malaysian-born, London-based contemporary artist renowned for her multidisciplinary practice that delves into the construction and deconstruction of social, cultural, and political systems. Born in 1985 in Selangor, Malaysia, to a Chinese-Malaysian mother and a Palestinian father, El-Sayegh relocated to the United Kingdom at the age of six. She earned her MA in painting from the Royal College of Art in 2011 . Rooted in assemblage and executed in a wide range of media, including densely layered paintings, sculpture, installation, diagrams, as well as performance, sound and video, her works investigate the formation and break-down of systems of order, be they bodily, linguistic or political.

moderator

Kendell Geers

Kendell Geers is a pivotal figure in contemporary African art, whose powerful works explore themes of identity, resistance, and the complex legacies of history. Born in apartheid-era South Africa, Geers' journey from a working-class family to an artist in exile has profoundly shaped his unique artistic language, defying simple categorization. Geers gained international recognition early in his career, with notable participation in the 1997 Johannesburg Biennale and Documenta 11 in 2002, curated by the esteemed Okwui Enwezor. In 2013, Enwezor further cemented Geers' significance by curating his retrospective at the prestigious Haus der Kunst in Munich. Now based in Brussels, Geers continues to push artistic boundaries, creating works that resonate globally while remaining firmly rooted in his African identity and experiences.
Start
Mon. June 16, 12:15PM
End
Mon. June 16, 2:00PM
Format
A Seat at the Table
Language
English (US)
Guest allowed?
No

Price

Registration for Art Matters with Mandy El-Sayegh
34.99€ Incl. VAT

Address

Event
Place Poelaert, 6
1000 Brussels
Belgium
Parking
Parking Poelaert, Place Poelaert 1000 Brussels

Detailed programme

Welcome
Mon. June 16, 12:15PM
Lunch and conversation
Mon. June 16, 12:30PM
End
Mon. June 16, 2:00PM

this event is limited to members only

last seats available