It’s hard to believe nobody has done it before, but Energy Flash: The Rave Movement purports to be the first museum show to shine a spotlight on rave culture of the ’80s and ’90s. Starting June 16, the Museum of Modern Art in Antwerp will host an examination detailing what the European rave movement really meant to the world, not only on a musical level but also in terms of the social, political, technological and economic factors that informed rave’s rise. The whole thing was overseen by Nav Haq, the museum’s senior curator and will feature music, art, prose and more.
The show kicks off with a big bang on its opening weekend, which will feature DJ sets by erstwhile Kraftwerk member Wolfgang Flür, Renaat Vandepapeliere of R&S Records, and much more presented in association with Antwerp club Ampere.
There’s a book that goes along with the show as well: RAVE: Rave and Its Influence on Art and Culture, published by the museum in cooperation with Black Dog and featuring contributions from Jeremy Deller, Kodwo Eshun, Wolfgang Voigt and others. Whether you lived the rave revolution firsthand or only wish you had, Energy Flash will offer some fresh perspectives on the phenomenon. Check the website for detailed info.
Image by Gert van Rooij