What’s on this week: 14-20 January

A few tickets remain for Kinshasa Now, a 360° virtual reality immersion into the life of the Congolese capital’s street children (main image). The award-winning film by Belgian director Marc-Henri Wajnberg follows 14-year-old Mika as he adapts to being homeless in Kinshasa. It forms the second part of an exhibition focusing on the plight of the thousands of kids on the street in the DRC city. Wajnberg talk sto Congolese artist Freddy Tsimba and other Kinshasa cultural personalities working with street children on 24 January. 16-26 January, Bozar, Rue Ravenstein 22

As a master of human drama, bestselling American author Douglas Kennedy is more than qualified to address Bozar’s literary talk Character determines destiny: a novelist’s thoughts on the human condition. Since his debut novel The Dead Heart in 1994, Kennedy has pursued a critically- and commercially-successful literary career. His 17 novels pursue multiple facets of the human condition from grief and tragedy to passion and love. For his Brussels engagement, he explores the need for resilience when tackling hardships in life. 18 January 20.30, Bozar, Rue Ravenstein 22

A new year brings a new calendar of exhibitions for many of Brussels galleries. Among the shows that have caught our eye are Andy Warhol: Icon icon icon at Deodato Art, an exhibition of works of some of the icons that inspired the Pop Art founder (Marilyn Monroe, pictured).

At Super Dakota, the collective exhibition Ecosystems of Relations explores intimacy, togetherness, empathy and community with works by Alex Clarke, Jeremy Deller (Sacrilege, pictured), Krista Gay, Jennifer J Lee, Carmen Kirkby, Connor McNicholas, Magali Reus, Ariane Schick, Julia Wachtel and Alberta Whittle. The intriguing title originates from Martinique-born philosopher Edouard Glissant’s work on global exchange. 14 January-12 March (Deodato Gallery) Rue Saint-Jean 28; Until 19 February (Super Dakota) Rue Washington 45 (Ixelles)

Belgian trad jazz band Life is a joke perform at the recently-reopened Sounds Jazz Club this Saturday. Led by Antoine Lissoir on the alto sax and clarinet, Life is a joke came together during the confinement as a group of musicians from various backgrounds who share their own compositions and song writing while exploring different styles of improvised music. 15 January 20.00, Rue de la Tulipe 28 (Ixelles)

Defy winter’s dismal darkness at the electronic music and art event Into the night on Sunday. Seven hours of house, techno, melodic techno and deep techno in an open decks format, plus an exhibition of photos.  Organised by collective Kollapse (pictured), drinks, house cocktails and mini burgers are all served by the Seventy-Five bar. 16 January 14.00-21.00, Rue des Alexiens 75

Global ambassador for hope and quality of life Leo Bormans aims to instill some much-needed optimism at the Full Circle event Hopetimism. The Belgian author and lecturer proclaims ‘hope is optimism with the sleeves rolled up’ as he shares advice on becoming more hopeful in these continuing uncertain times. 20 January 18.30-20.30, Full Circle House, Chaussée de Vleurgat 89 (Ixelles)

OUTSIDE BRUSSELS

The historic setting of Groot-Bijgaarden Castle is transformed into a magical world of sound and light installations in the sensory experience Nature Illuminated. The two kilometre-long trail is themed the four seasons and features light displays, video projections, illuminated artworks and immersive scenic designs. Tickets for the 60-minute winter symphony show are selling fast, so book as soon as possible. From 21 January, Isidoor van Beverenstraat 5, 1702 Dilbeek

Reserve now: Literary talk Jewish teenager Thomas Geve was deported to Auschwitz in 1943, experiencing forced labour until the end of the second world war. After liberation, he was too weak to leave the concentration camp and while convalescing made 79 drawings of his experiences in the camp. The resulting memoir The boy who drew Auschwitz is the subject of a book presentation in English at the Kazerne Dossin museum and memorial in Mechelen. Geve’s half-sister Judy Cohn presents the book on behalf of the Holocaust survivor who now lives in Israel. Cohn is introduced by the museum’s head of research Veerle Vanden Daelen (entrance free; registration necessary). 23 January 14.00, Goswin de Stassartstraat 153, 2800 Mechelen