Manifesta 9 in Genk's Waterschei Mine Explores Industrial Heritage

From June 2 to September 30, 2012, Genk, Belgium, hosted Manifesta 9, known as "The Deep of the Modern," at the Waterschei mine, an expansive 20,000 m² industrial facility. Curated by Cuauhtémoc Medina, Katerina Gregos, and Dawn Ades, this biennial explored the interplay of art, industrial labor, and social history. The exhibition comprised three distinct sections: "17 Tonnes," focusing on mining heritage; "The Age of Coal," examining historical artistic reactions to mining; and "The Poetry of Restructuring," highlighting contemporary works on economic changes. Featured historical artists included Marcel Duchamp and Christian Boltanski, while contemporary contributors encompassed Ni Haifeng and Carlos Amorales. The former coal mine venue was integral, bridging the past with the present.