Belgian System Exhibition at Tour & Taxis, Brussels

The exhibition titled 'Ici et maintenant - belgian system' was held at Tour & Taxis in Brussels, Belgium, from September 16 to October 28, 2001. Curated by Laurent Jacob, the director of Espace 251 Nord in Liège, the event utilized four floors, each spanning 10,000 m², within a former royal warehouse that had been deserted for twelve years. This exhibition coincided with Belgium's presidency of the European Union. Unlike Jacob's earlier international showcases, such as Jardin de la Vierge (1993) and Fragments du Désir (1995), this event exclusively spotlighted contemporary Belgian art, featuring nearly 130 artists from various backgrounds, including notable figures like Bijl, Charlier, and Wéry. Many of the artworks were site-specific, tailored to the expansive industrial setting. The exhibition emphasized the 'Belgian System' as a culturally exportable entity, highlighting the necessity for enhanced production support and international visibility. A related event was the 'La Trahison des images – Portraits de scènes' exhibition in Venice earlier that summer.