Belgium: Brussels
In a nutshell...
Known as the capital of comic strips, Brussels is also unique for its mix of modern buildings and Art Nouveau style homes.
An animated and festive city, it is not rare to witness a fanfare or a parade in the Grand Place nor is it uncommon to see the Mannekenpis being adomed in a new costume; Brussels is a city for walking.
The city is spread out, with 19 districts depicting many different faces of the capital. Ixelles is famous for its nightlife, where Saint-Gilles, particularly the Maison Horta, is popular with those who are interested in Art Nouveau.
Truly European in character, Brussels offers all the Belgian specialities, from beer to waffles, but Italian and French dishes are also popular. This is a city where everyone can find something of interest.
Brussels : Events
Karen Knorr, Fables
From 20th June to 28th September 2008
Fables are the flowers of the Renaissance. They are short caricatural stories about people and familiar animals, which explore the numerous facets of human vanity. They seem to be particularly suitable for our own era, with its decadent consumerism, its “spectacularity” and its particular fondness of Schadenfreude. Fables have been used since Greek Antiquity to demonstrate the worst traits of human nature.
Karen Knorr’s latest series is entitled “Fables”, but the moral portrayed by the images is not immediately obvious. The Lambda colour photographs taken at the Musée Carnavalet in Paris caricaturise common animals: the cunning fox, the stupid pigeon, the parsimonious squirrel and the annoying rat. However these creatures, borrowed from a taxidermist rather than from a zoo, are not presented in order to illustrate a story. Rather than adopting a certain pose that would be too ostentatious and degrading, these individuals are mostly sitting or behaving calmly. Their fixed stares take us to specific faraway places and on to discover the allegory, when we see this strange and rare world imbued with culture that is shown here and in the photographs themselves.
PARTNER ADVANTAGE
Free entry to the exhibition when you purchase the book “Karen Knorr, Fables” and on presentation of proof of travel on Thalys.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
ACCESS
Centrale Electrique
Place Sainte Catherine, 44
1000 Bruxelles
Karen Knorr
The King’s Reception (Site : Château de Chambord)
Série Fables, 2004-2007
Courtesy : Galerie Les filles du calvaire, Paris, Bruxelles
