Women in hospitality

This small group exhibition was presented as part of the Women in Hospitality event at The Nine in Brussels —bringing together art, conversation, and community around inclusion and empowerment in the hospitality sector. The two paintings by Veronika Fekete were inspired, among other things, by the book Real Estate by Deborah Levy. As Lily Meyer wrote in a review of the book: “ Often while reading Real Estate, which is a playful, candid, and a supremely elegant exploration of Levy's concept of — and desire for — home, I found myself wishing that she would come sit down with me. “ One could almost imagine themselves sitting down with her in a setting just like the one depicted in the painting entitled Real Estate. The painting invites the viewer into a cosy, tranquil living room, where a large figure of a woman is sitting in an armchair, exuding a calm, welcoming presence. Beside her, a cat rests peacefully on the cushions, adding to the atmosphere of quiet comfort and serenity. Hanging on the wall is a small lemon painting by Manet, its bright simplicity standing out against the softness of the room and the atmosphere of gentle warmth created by the pink walls. The painting seems to beckon the viewer, offering a quiet invitation to step into this serene, personal space. It conveys a feeling of hospitality and peaceful solitude, as though the woman’s world is open for anyone who might wish to join —just an open invitation to rest, reflect, or simply exist alongside her in this carefully curated moment of calm. Hospitality could be defined as the intent to design and open up a space, making it a home that others can come into and feel welcomed in. The act of making a house a home -in particular as a woman- to inhabit and welcome others into, is a the heart of Deborah Levy’s “living autobiography“. She beautifully describes hospitality as a joyful political act. “ Yet I was never as happy as when I was cooking for a crowd of young women. It was an unexpected honour and I got a very primal enjoyment from their pleasure. They even joked that I should start a café called Girls & Women, and promised they would help out in the holidays. (…) Perhaps it was even a political pleasure to nourish young women, who had such a hard time. Most of all I liked their appetite - yes, for the dish prepared, but for life itself. I wanted them to find strength for all they had to do in the world and for all the world would throw at them. “ Deborah Levy, Real Estate The small painting In good company captures a moment of quiet intimacy in a living room, where three women are gathered. Its composition is inspired by Vanessa Bell, while also drawing from Pierre Bonnard, Richard Diebenkorn and David Park, with subtle nods to Suzanne Valadon and Alice Neel. One woman pours coffee, while the others sit nearby, creating a sense of natural connection, in a sort of sisterhood of female artists. The room is bathed in the soft warmth of pink walls and deep ochre-yellow curtains, while a window in the background hints at a distant view, perhaps of the sea, opening up the horizon of this cosy room. The scene exudes a sense of friendship and calm, inviting the viewer into this moment.