Editorial | December 2017

After a year under construction, Fondation Thalie will open in January 2018 with the presentation of the first projects from the artists’ residencies. The unique, hybrid programme will feature a series of gatherings focused on visual art, contemporary thought, fashion and food.

Fondation Thalie will act as a catalyst for encounters intended to promote innovative artistic practices that resonate with contemporary social issues.

Fondation Thalie defines itself as an incubator, providing artists with optimal support to develop their work, from the initial idea to the final result. The very first session of the artists’ residency, launched in October 2017, explores the notions of identity and territory through two projects that address the situation of refugees;

Using shamanism, meditation, theatre and music as well as collaboration with NGOs and European institutions, the guest artists have sought to expand their impact beyond the contemporary art world.

At the start of 2018, I am very pleased to invite you to discover the first projects completed by Elena Mazzi and Grace Ndiritu, both of whom have experienced their relationship to the city of Brussels, the capital of Europe, as a crossroads of many cultures.

Their performance and video installation captures a shared sense of urgency: the need for human interaction and the importance of the collective voice, which has become more relevant than ever in an increasingly virtual world…

Therefore, I cordially invite you to the public presentation on Thursday, 11 January 2018 at 6 PM of the video by Elena Mazzi and on Sunday, 21 January from 11 AM to 6 PM for a panel discussion and a shared meal in the context of a performance, ‘Healing the museum: A Meal for my Ancestors’, an ambitious collaborative project by the artist Grace Ndiritu.

On behalf of the entire team of Fondation Thalie, Julien Amicel, Claire Moloux and Francois Shunshuke Nanjo, I wish you all the best for 2018!

Nathalie Guiot