Presence of the Past opens with a blast!
The House of European History’s first ever photo exhibition ‘Presence of the Past - a European Album’ opened with two events on 27 and 28 March.
Presence of the Past marks the seventh temporary exhibition launched since the museum opened in 2017. Featuring 27 photographic projects and over 100 photographs from all over Europe, the exhibition reveals the contrasting ways Europeans invite the past into the present, and develops visitors’ critical sense on the relationship between the past and history.
The first opening event welcomed members of the museum’s management and supervisory bodies, along with coordinators from the photography department of the La Cambre school of visual arts, who partnered on the project. The official opening was performed by Ms. Diana Wallis, Vice-Chair of the museum’s Board of Trustees and former MEP. Ms. Wallis noted that “photographs are not just images — they are stories, witnesses, and catalysts for reflection.” She gave special thanks to the six students and recent alumni from La Cambre for their contributions. In her speech, lead curator Simina Bădică highlighted the lively nature of this exhibit, in contrast with the usual history exhibitions “dealing with things long dead”.
Presence of the Past truly came to life on its first day of opening, with 1120 visitors exploring the exhibition and joining the public event. The programme included a photo collage workshop, mosaic photo studio, as well as ‘meet the photographers’ in the galleries. All this was accompanied by music, whilst people could drink the ‘Intemporel’ or ‘Hors du Temps cocktails. In addition the participatory photo project 'Picture It' kicked off with 20 enthusiastic people receiving Kodak cameras. They will contribute to an upcoming hands-on corner of the exhibition.
During the evening, visitors contributed to the scenography and left their marks for all to see. Some built monuments to iconic people and purposes, by scratching their answers on a special exhibition wall, acknowledging from mothers, Marie Curie, Karl Marx, World Peace and Climate Protectors. Others searched through old photographs, offered in the museum space, and curated their own titled selection, creating an exhibition inside an exhibition.
Presence of the Past is open until 11 January 2026. Join on “Slow Looking Saturdays” to delve into the exhibition themes at a different pace.
A Brussels and European museum, the House of European History takes us on an astonishing and fascinating journey through the traces that the past has left in our everyday lives.
A great crowd with questions about both my work on the wall and my practice in general. Fantastic to be part of this European wide exhibition.
Seeing my work in a space dedicated to European history is truly special.
Please organise more events like this.