Civil action: Inauguration of the ‘Monument des pionniers’ in the Cinquantenaire Park “The Grand Opening”. In line with the Brussels-Capital Region’s action plan “Towards the Decolonisation of Public Space”, urban Brussels commissioned the architectural collective Traumnovelle to create an installation titled “The Grand Opening” in front of the Monument to the Belgian Pioneers in Congo at Cinquantenaire Park. Unveiled on March 21, 2024, coinciding with the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the installation serves as a symbolic ritual to deconstruct the colonial propaganda associated with the monument. The project includes a plaque encouraging viewers to reconsider the depicted scenes and inscriptions, highlighting the racial stereotypes they convey. This temporary installation is scheduled to remain in place for one year, providing a platform for various artists to engage with and reinterpret the space. Brussels, 21 April, 2024
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