Belgian Art & Diplomacy

04/06/2025

Tomorrow, on the 5th of June, it is , . We are delighted to share in this framework another outreach project with two works of the collection of the from the Belgian Embassy in Lima, Peru. Two textiles are on loan in the first Design Triennial Covilhã in Portugal.

The theme of the is Textile Landscapes and the title of its international program is Here, now: bioregional paths and situated practices, curated by and .s.duarte.16 projects, from all over the world, are presented as case studies whose impact has already been proven in their contexts of origin.The loan of the two Arpilleras de la Agrobiodiversidad from the Belgian Embassy in Lima, Peru, is one of these 16 projects. The arpilleras are installed in the ANIL Pavillion (Pavilhão da ANIL), one of the 7 venues across the city of Covilhã and are part of the “Hands that weave the future” nucleus of the Triennial.The arpilleras were made by female artisans from Ayacucho from the surplus fabric from the textile industry. The iconography in the artworks reflect the agricultural diversity of Peru’s two major water basins, the Pacific coast and the Amazon River in the jungle. The products that are depicted in the art works refer to the eight different value chains, such as tropical fish, indigenous fruits and potatoes, cacao, quinoa, alpaca wool, guinea pigs in the five different regions. The work was commissioned and acquired in 2014 in the framework of The Program for Sustainable Economic Development and Strategic Natural Resources Management (PRODERN), a direct bilateral cooperation program between the Belgian Development Cooperation (Enabel) and the Peruvian Ministry of Environment with focus on the five regions and sustainable use of natural resources and biodiversity. WorldEnvironmentDay Embaixada da Bélgica em Portugal / Embassy of Belgium in Portugal
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07/05/2025

On 5 May, , an official holiday in the Netherlands, the end of is commemorated. In the week of this day it is a good opportunity to bring Philippe Herbet’s photo ‘Magritte à Yalta’ under the spotlight. This photo was acquired in 2013 by BelgiumMFA and has since adorned on the walls in the then-renovated Belgian embassy in , a project by Rotterdam-based architecture firm .

is a mythical place in the of . It was here that Joseph Stalin, Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt met from 4 to 11 February #1945. They defined here a common strategy to hasten the of , settle the fate of after the defeat of the Third Reich, ensure the of the order after victory guarantee.

As part of the ‘Ebb and Flow’ exhibition, the work is shown at the of the Belgian ambassador in . This exhibition brings together work by artists such as Pierre Alechinsky, Mark Bosselaers (cover), Gustave De Smet, Arthur Grosemans, Jules Lismonde, Joseph Moerenhout, Constantin Permeke, Suzanne Thienpont, Louis Van Lint, Maurits Van Saene and Rik Wouters from the collection of the . From the , the works of .e.rbe.t and from the in , the impressionistic work by comes from , the jacket with shells by Mark Luyten is temporarily borrowed from the in . A few works by , , , , enrich the theme of the exhibition.

The concept and selection grew into an organic whole thanks to the frequent consultation of the of the , and the in . The exhibition runs from 17 November 2023 to 30 January 2026. The ‘Eb en vloed’ and ‘Flot et jusant’, exists in printed and digital form (check the link in bio)

28/11/2024

OUTREACH 🫵🏻🫵🏽🫵🏿

Art work 🖼️ from the Belgian 🇧🇪 Embassy in Rabat on loan in travelling exhibition in Morocco 🇲🇦

In the framework of the celebration of 60 years of economic and cultural cooperation between Morocco and Belgium the Brussels organizes the ‘Moussem Belgica’ festival. Mohamed and , the curators of this project, aim to showcase the Moroccan community in the way it deserves. Besides the , there is also a ✍🏼and a programme. 🎬 The three disciplines are intertwined from 4 to 25 October 2024 in Galerie d’Art Contemporain Mohamed Drissi in and 1 to 30 November 2024 in . In Tangier, the exhibition took place at and in Galérie d’Art in Oujda. Tangier and Oujda are symbolic places. From these north and north western regions many immigrants left at the time, just after the country’s .

Nine artists 👨🏾‍🎨 👩🏻‍🎨 🎨 including .babaali, , and , are exhibiting their work. One of the themes addressed in the exhibition is the and of in big . This theme is reflected in Randa Maroufi’s . She shows a reality, like a specific place in the area, be it in , or Tangier, with an explicitly and exclusively occupation by women. This is the case with her photograph 📸 ‘Place Houwaert’ from the series ‘Les intruses’. Place Houwaert is a square in Brussels, in Sint-Joost-ten-Node, which is usually occupied mainly exclusively by men.

The work of Randa Maroufi is on from the in . The embassy as well as the are very pleased to support this initiative. As a result, the art collection enjoys greater visibility and reaches an outside the embassy walls thanks to the exhibition and the created .

Looking for in-depth info? 👉Follow link in bio

14/10/2024

09/05/2024

EUROPE DAY - THE MIROR OF WAVES. Inspired by the waves of the sea, the rustling of trees, the blowing of corn on a field and a flying flock of birds, the art installation Le Miroir des vagues brings into the atrium of the Justus Lipsius building through . Technology becomes and . It shows as a of . Thanks to the movement created by a fluctuating algorithm, the 150 motorised masts with colour-changing spheres depict the and of the . That harmony is occasionally by the abrupt movement of elements. And then a new emerges.

Visitors a different and colour palette each time as they walk through or around the artwork. In the first months, the shades of the colour palette are inspired by a warm sunset. In the latter months, the shades of blue and yellow are promiscuous, forming a flapping and undulating colour plane with blue tones and yellow accents, a reference to a . And in the spirit of the idea: in .

The work is designed by visual artist .tardy (1984) and the creative company Under My Network for this space as part of the , following a public tender launched by the . Based on its and and character, this art installation was selected. The placement of the artwork in this location also literally : the installation is reflected on the marble floor as well as on the surrounding windows.

The installation is built and has been dismantled five times during the presidency. The work has been temporarily stored in the artist’s studio .brussels before the reinstallation. The work is sustainable as consumption is minimal, comparable to a household appliance such as a fridge, and the various elements can be reused after the presidency. They will recur in other formations in Tardy’s poetic and at events of in which Under My Network is active.

08/05/2024

LE MIROIR DES VAGUES

On the eve before , #9 , there is a lot of activity in the of the Justus Lipsius building. The art installation Le Miroir des vagues is built there again for the fifth and the last time. Due to and activities, such as the on the 4th of May, the art installation had to be removed to create space for the 1000 during the Summits and for the national representations during the Open Day.

For the last months of the Belgian Presidency, the art installation will not have the colours of a setting sun. to know more about the differences in the installation? And do you want to know more about the and what the artist exactly intended with this work? In the next post, we share an with the . And in another post, some follow. Still want to know more? Then you can pay a to the installation! Anyone can enter for free in the atrium of the Justus Lipsius building, Rue de la Loi 175, 1040 Brussels. The atrium is open to all within office hours. You should schedule to be subject to the usual checks. And then you can have a and the .

08/03/2024

Happy IWD2024!

VERTIGOBelgian Pioneering women, 2024Animation film created for EU2024BEScenario: Belgian MFA & VertigoDesign: VertigoPhotos & Film credits:Chantal Akerman ...

03/05/2023

ART & EUROPE (EN, FR, NL ⤵️)

EN – Art & Europe - On the occasion of Europe Day (May 9), the European institutions in Brussels open their doors to the general public on May 6. Highly recommended is a visit to the European Parliament's art collection. The Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlights some of the works of art in the residence of the Belgian Permanent Representative to the EU. A peek behind the doors is offered through the visit by some 20 international students from the master's programme in architecture and interior architecture of the KU Leuven (Sint-Lucas Ghent campus) on 21 April. Ambassador Willem van de Voorde explained the use of the residence and the role art plays in it for his diplomatic work. Ilse Dauwe, curator of the art collection of the Belgian MFA, explained the art collection in the residence and in general. The students of the master seminar "Research Questions on Interior Design", led by Professor Fredie Floré and PhD student Charlotte Rottiers, made this visit as part of the research for a paper they are writing. This paper should take the form of a catalogue text on the interior of a Belgian embassy in Europe from the 1930s. This idea grew out of an article series on the housing of Belgian diplomatic representation published in Le Soir Illustré in the 1930s. The final presentation will take the form of an exhibition concept.

FR - Art & Europe - A l'occasion de la Journée de l'Europe (9 mai), les institutions européennes à Bruxelles ouvrent leurs portes au grand public le 6 mai. Une visite de la collection d'œuvres d'art du Parlement européen est vivement recommandée. Le SPF Affaires étrangères présente quelques-unes des œuvres d'art de la résidence du représentant permanent de la Belgique auprès de l'UE. La visite d'une vingtaine d'étudiants internationaux du programme de maîtrise en architecture et architecture d'intérieur de la KU Leuven (Campus Sint-Luc de Gand), le 21 avril, est l’occasion de jeter un coup d'œil derrière les portes. L'ambassadeur Willem van de Voorde a expliqué l'utilisation de la résidence et le rôle que l'art y joue dans le cadre de son travail diplomatique. Ilse Dauwe, conservatrice de la collection d'art du MAE, a expliqué la collection d'art dans la résidence et en général. Les étudiants du séminaire de master "Research Questions on Interior Design", dirigé par le professeur Fredie Floré et la doctorante Charlotte Rottiers, ont effectué cette visite dans le cadre d'un article qu'ils rédigent sous la forme d'un texte de catalogue sur l'intérieur d'une ambassade belge en Europe dans les années 1930. Cette idée est née d'une série d'articles sur le logement des représentations diplomatiques belges publiés dans Le Soir Illustré dans les années 1930. La présentation finale prendra la forme d'un concept d'exposition.

NL – Kunst & Europa – Ter gelegenheid van Europadag (9 mei) zetten de Europese instellingen in Brussel op 6 mei de deuren open voor het grote publiek. Een aanrader is een bezoek aan de kunstcollectie van het Europees Parlement. De FOD Buitenlandse Zaken zet enkele kunstwerken in de residentie van de Belgische permanent vertegenwoordiger bij de EU in de kijker. Een blik achter de deuren komt er mede naar aanleiding van een bezoek van een 20 internationale studenten van de masteropleiding architectuur en interieurarchitectuur van de KU Leuven (Campus Sint-Lucas Gent) op 21 april. Ambassadeur Willem van de Voorde gaf een woordje uitleg bij het gebruik van de residentie en de rol die kunst daarin speelt voor zijn diplomatiek werk. Ilse Dauwe, conservator van de kunstcollectie van de Belgian MFA, verduidelijkte de kunstcollectie in de residentie en het algemeen. De studenten van het masterseminarie “Research Questions on Interior Design”, onder leiding van Prof. Fredie Floré en doctoranda Charlotte Rottiers, brachten dit bezoek naar aanleiding van een paper die ze schrijven in de vorm van een catalogustekst over het interieur van een Belgische ambassade in Europa uit de jaren 1930. Dit idee is ontsproten aan een artikelenreeks over de huisvesting van de Belgische diplomatieke vertegenwoordigen die in de jaren 1930 in Le Soir Illustré is verschenen. De eindpresentatie zal de vorm hebben van een tentoonstellingsconcept.

19/04/2023

ART AS A DIPLOMAT? (EN, FR, NL ⤵️)

EN –Art as a diplomat? On 31 March 2023 a networking event between Dutch and Belgian corporate collections took place at the Belgian ambassador's residence in The Hague. In the panel discussions moderated by Professor Arnold Witte () the role of art in corporate collections was discussed via several angels. To get an impression of the day, we would like to focus on “The tulip of Vermeer” by Jean-Pierre Point. "A James Ensor" (art collection ) and "La tulipe de Vermeer" (art collection ) by Jean-Pierre Point adorn the entrance of the residence, as part of the exhibition "No Pure Money Issue". In "La Tulipe de Vermeer", a flower bouquet featuring a tulip and a reproduction of "The Girl with the Pearl Earring" by Johannes Vermeer (1632-1675, Delft), is displayed in a domestic setting. Vermeer's original work was recently on temporary display at the retrospective "Vermeer" at the in Amsterdam (10/02-4/06/23) and has since returned to the in The Hague. At in Charleroi, the exhibition "Il y a quelque chose de beau dans les objets qui nous entourent " runs until 23 April, featuring some 50 screen prints from 1970-2010 by Jean-Pierre Point (1941, Tournai-2023, Evere). An overly canonised artwork on one side and a poster as reproduction of a well-known artwork on the other are at the ends of the spectrum. It is precisely the layers and dialogues around a work of art and an that make a work of art in a context so fascinating. In the third panel discussion, the subject “art as a diplomate?” is discussed in a dialogue between artist Johan Tahon and the curators of the art collections of Foreign Affairs Netherlands, Philippien Noordam and Belgium, Ilse Dauwe. With Johan Tahon's work in the background (art collection ) , they talked about vulnerability, spirituality and emotions in a business context and what role art can play on this (worldly) stage. The audience also got involved in the debate with questions about authenticity and the interrogating role of artworks. Thanks to the speakers, the artists and the team for the organization and on this day of , , , , , , , , , , , .tahon, .

FR - L’art en tant que diplomate ? – Le 31 mars 2023, un événement de «networking » entre les collections d'entreprise néerlandaises et belges a eu lieu à la résidence de l'ambassadeur belge à La Haye. Au cours des discussions modérées par le professeur Arnold Witte (), le rôle de l'art dans les collections d'entreprise a été abordé par le biais de plusieurs anges. Pour avoir une idée de la journée, nous aimerions nous concentrer sur "La tulipe de Vermeer" de Jean-Pierre Point. "A James Ensor" (collection ) et "La tulipe de Vermeer" (collection ) de Jean-Pierre Point ornent l'entrée de la résidence, dans le cadre de l'exposition "Non seulement une question d’argent". Dans "La Tulipe de Vermeer", un bouquet de fleurs composé d'une tulipe et d'une reproduction de " La Jeune Fille à la perle " de Johannes Vermeer (1632-1675, Delft) est présenté dans un cadre domestique. L'œuvre originale de Vermeer a récemment fait l'objet d'une exposition temporaire dans le cadre de la rétrospective "Vermeer" au d'Amsterdam (10/02-4/06/23) et est depuis retournée au de La Haye. Au à Charleroi, l'exposition "Il y a quelque chose de beau dans les objets qui nous entourent" présente jusqu'au 23 avril une cinquantaine de sérigraphies de 1970-2010 de Jean-Pierre Point (1941, Tournai-2023, Evere). Une œuvre d'art trop canonisée d'un côté et une affiche comme reproduction d'une œuvre d'art connue de l'autre sont aux extrémités du spectre. Ce sont précisément les couches et les dialogues autour d'une œuvre d'art et d'un artiste qui rendent une œuvre d'art dans un contexte d'entreprise si fascinante. Dans la troisième table ronde, le sujet " l'art en tant que diplomate ? " est abordé dans un dialogue entre l'artiste Johan Tahon et les conservateurs des collections d'art des Affaires étrangères des Pays-Bas, Philippien Noordam, et de la Belgique, Ilse Dauwe. Avec l'œuvre de Johan Tahon en arrière-plan (collection d'art ), ils ont parlé de la vulnérabilité, de la spiritualité et des émotions dans un contexte d’entreprise et du rôle que l'art peut jouer sur cette scène (mondiale). Le public a également participé au débat en posant des questions sur l'authenticité et le rôle interrogateur des œuvres d'art. Merci aux intervenants, aux artistes et à l'équipe pour l'organisation et les échanges lors de cette journée de connexion : , , , , , , , , , , , .tahon, .

NL – Kunst als diplomaat? – Kunst als diplomaat? Op 31 maart 2023 vond een netwerkevenement tussen Nederlandse en Belgische bedrijfscollecties plaats in de residentie van de Belgische ambassadeur in Den Haag. In de paneldiscussies, gemodereerd door professor Arnold Witte (), werd via verschillende invalshoeken de rol van kunst in bedrijfscollecties belicht. Om een indruk te krijgen van de dag willen we graag stilstaan bij "De tulp van Vermeer" van Jean-Pierre Point. Twee kunstwerken, "A James Ensor" (kunstcollectie ) en "La tulipe de Vermeer" (kunstcollectie ), van Jean-Pierre Point sieren de ingang van de residentie in het kader van de tentoonstelling "Geen pure geldkwestie". In "La Tulipe de Vermeer" wordt een boeket bloemen met een tulp en een reproductie van "Het meisje met de parel" van Johannes Vermeer (1632-1675, Delft) getoond in een huiselijke omgeving. Het originele werk van Vermeer was onlangs tijdelijk te zien op de overzichtstentoonstelling "Vermeer" in het in Amsterdam (10/02-4/06/23) en is inmiddels teruggekeerd naar het in Den Haag. In in Charleroi loopt tot 23 april de tentoonstelling "Il y a quelque chose de beau dans les objets qui nous entourent", met een 50-tal zeefdrukken uit de periode 1970-2010 van Jean-Pierre Point (1941, Doornik-2023, Evere). Een overdreven gecanoniseerd kunstwerk aan de ene kant en een affiche als reproductie van een bekend kunstwerk aan de andere kant staan aan de uiteinden van het spectrum. Juist de lagen en rond een kunstwerk en een kunstenaar maken een kunstwerk in een corporate context zo fascinerend. In de derde paneldiscussie wordt het onderwerp "kunst als diplomaat?" besproken in een dialoog tussen kunstenaar Johan Tahon en de conservatoren van de kunstcollecties van Buitenlandse Zaken Nederland, Philippien Noordam en België, Ilse Dauwe. Met het werk van Johan Tahon op de achtergrond (kunstcollectie ) spraken zij over kwetsbaarheid, spiritualiteit en emoties in een zakelijke context en welke rol kunst op dit (wereldse) podium kan spelen. Ook het publiek mengde zich in het debat met vragen over authenticiteit en de bevragende rol van kunstwerken. Dank aan de sprekers, de kunstenaars en het team voor de organisatie en uitwisseling op deze dag van verbinden: , , , , , , , , , , , .tahon,