In 1977, young artists Jan Janssen, Ronald Stoops, Narcisse Tordoir, and Rudolf Verbesselt squat an empty building on Coppenolstraat in Antwerp, transforming it into both a studio and a living space. Over time, it evolves into an experimental hub for exhibitions, performances, film screenings, and even a makeshift discotheque, all while remaining a space for both creativity and living. In addition, Today’s Place serves as a base for happenings and actions both in Antwerp and beyond. Alongside performances under their own name, the founders curate programmes featuring Antwerp-based and international artists, filmmakers, performers, musicians, and designers.
Today’s Place forges connections with still-legendary collectives such as Reindeer Werk (Thom Puckey and Dirk Larsen), Coum Transmissions (Cosey Fanni Tutti and Genesis P-Orridge) from London, and CEAC from Toronto. It also organises performances by Ken McMullen and Bruna Hautman, among others, as well as concerts by The Kids and Stalag 6.
Both Today’s Place‘s audience and approach are radically multidisciplinary: punk, art, fashion, performance, and music converge in a shared escape from institutional frameworks. The combination of youthful energy and resistance results in powerful and engaging projects, involving designers such as Walter Van Beirendonck. However, the explosive energy also creates tensions with the neighbourhood, and in 1978, Today’s Place is closed down following a police raid.
The archive presentation at M HKA offers, for the first time, an overview of Today’s Place‘s most significant projects—videos of performances and photos of exhibitions—complemented by historical printed matter, magazines, and posters.
