Villa Empain, Brussels, from September 20th 2012 until February 10th 2013
For many years, the Boghossian Foundation has kept its goal to contribute as much as possible to the dialog between western and eastern cultures. That is why the Boghossian Foundation has set up its main office at the Villa Empain, a Brussels Art deco gem. After thorough refurbishment, this magnificent building has finally opened its doors to the public in April 2010.
The building is now home to the Boghossian Foundation's exhibitions, concerts, lectures, international meetings that bring together and confront many aspects of these different cultures.
The artistic creation has an essential role in this process. Art is interpreted and understood as a dialog, enabling the surpassing of international boundaries, unleashed from time, disciplines and borders.
Egyptomania, a lasting fascination
From the XVIIIth century and during the Napoleon Bonaparte's campaign in particular, Egypt fascinates researchers as well as art and antiquities lovers. The opening of the Suez canal in 1869, the development of the Orientalism and the trend of vast universal exhibitions reflect this enthusiasm for the Nile's Valley and the richness of its history.
Source of influence and fascination, the image of Egypt has taken thousands of shapes in the West for more than two centuries. It's traced can be found not only in architecture, ornamental arts, painting and sculpture, in literature but also, and more recently in cinema and comics. The zoological gardens of Berlin, Hamburg or Antwerp with their Egyptian looking "temple" for giraffes and elephants are contemporary manifestations of its influence.
Famous writers such as Gustave Flaubert, Theophile Gauthier, Gerard de Nerval, painters, photographs, compositors like Giuseppe Verde, Sarah Bernhardt in the character of Cleopatra (1880, theater piece of Victorien Sardou) haven't escaped from this trend.
In 1922, the spectacular discovery of the Tutankhamun revives the enthusiasm of the creators of the Art Deco.
Modernity takes possession of the mythical figure of Cleopatra with Liz Taylor, in the famous John Mankiewicz movie. It invites to the adventure with Herge and Edgar P. Jacobs, thanks to the boards of their well-known albums (Tintin and the cigars or the Pharaoh, Tintin and The Mystery of the great Pyramid). Later, the theme is picked up again by Asterix, daring to discover the land of pyramids and the land of the legendary queen.
A captivating and stunning universe is laid out in this exhibition. Visitors glance at fascinating mommies from the Nile's shore, incorporating detailed descriptions. From the renowned "Return from Egypt" styles to the decryption of hieroglyphs, pharaonic architectures to the Orientalist paintings, the empire itself to art deco furniture - the walk continues to give a detailed and varied insight into the rich culture. Moreover, even jewels, fashion accessories, operas, ancient theatres, literature and comic strips but also the Heliopolis construction by Edouard Empain complete the image and depicts the deep links between eastern and western cultures.
The exhibition has been set up with the scientific advices of the Professor Eugène Warmembol of the Université Libre de Bruxelles, member of the mission held in Elkab (Upper Egypt) for the Royal Museum of Art and History, member of the mission managed by the Université Libre de Bruxelles in Gourna (left side of Luxor) and author of the book Le lotus et l'oignon. Egyptologie et Egyptomanie en Belgique au XIXème siècle (Ed. Le Livre Timperman, 2012).
The exhibition has been coordinated by Diane Hennebert, director of the Boghossian Foundation, and by Christophe Dosogne, artistic consultant at the Boghossian Foundation.
A catalog, with an introduction by the Professor Eugène Warmembol, completes the exhibition.
Special thanks
The Boghossian foundation takes advantages of many collaborations with lenders in the frame of this exhibition, including
The Bibliothèque nationale de France - Opéra Garnier, the Institut français d'Architecture (Paris), the Musée national d'Art moderne - Centre Georges Pompidou, the museums and parks of the Château de Compiègne, the Musée des Beaux Arts of Grenoble, the Musée des Beaux Arts of Orléans, the Musée of Quimper, Sèvres - Cité de la céramique, the New York Public Library, the Brussels Fine Arts Academy, the Archives d'Architecture Moderne (Brussels), the Hendrik Conscience Library(Antwerp), The Human sciences library of the Université Libre de Bruxelles, the Musée communal d'Ixelles, the Musée François Duesberg (Mons), the Musée royal de Mariemont, the Royal Museum of Art and History, the royal Opera royal of la Monnaie (Brussels), Amicom vzw (Antwerp), Baccarat (Paris), the Boghossian collection (Brussels and Geneva), the Cartier Collection (Paris and Geneva), the Edgar P. Jacobs Foundation (Brussels), the Loge des Amis Philanthropes (Brussels), LVMH / Dior Couture (Paris),Ampersand House (Brussels), la Galerie Berko (Knokke), Collector's Gallery (Brussels), the Galerie Yannick David (Brussels), the Miphan gallery (Brussels), the Nathalie Obadia gallery (Brussels and Paris), the Victor Werner gallery (Antwerp), the Maison Vrouyr (Antwerp), Rose Issa Projects (London), Svenkst Tenn (Stockholm), the county François d'Ansembourg, Sir Paul de Grande, Jean-Marcel Humbert, Eugène Warmenbol and many other private lenders from Belgium or from abroad who wanted to stay anonym.
For complementary information:
Diane Hennebert, director
Christophe Dosogne, artistic consultant
Boghossian Foundation
Villa Empain - Center of art and dialogue between the Cultures of the East and the West
Avenue Franklin Roosevelt 67 - 1050 Brussels - Belgium
[email protected] - [email protected]
www.fondationboghossian.com - www.villaempain.com
