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 contemporary artist. His work confronts universal themes of love, resilience, and hope, driven by his belief that the act of making art is what defines humanity itself. In times of social crisis and political extremism, his work challenges audiences to consider how art can build bridges and restore a sense of shared humanity. Extending this vision, Geers hosts the Art Matters tables at TheMerode. Bringing together performance, philosophical inquiry, and community engagement, Art Matters embodies his conviction that art is not a passive pursuit but an active force for change. At its heart lies the idea that art changes the world, one perception at a time.
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

Past Event