Transforming the History of Belgium's Harsh Colonial Policies into Art

Born in Belgium in 1958, Jan Fabre's works, which explore resistance and attitudes towards death beneath a surface beauty, have garnered international acclaim. While holding solo exhibitions at prestigious institutions like the Louvre Museum and the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp, he has also established a solid reputation as a writer and theater director.

Among Fabre's representative works are those utilizing the elytra of scarab beetles and jewel beetles. These pieces, which endlessly transform their appearance depending on the viewer's perspective and the light reflecting off the elytra, have captivated the world. In recent years, he has further used these scarab beetles to artistically research and transform into art the history of Belgium's harsh colonial policies in Congo from the 19th to the 20th century.

This exhibition, the first in Japan to showcase his works using scarab beetle elytra, features 14 carefully selected pieces from the series. Inspired by the parables and moral lessons found in the triptych 'The Garden of Earthly Delights' (1503-1504) by the Flemish master Hieronymus Bosch, these works are created by meticulously arranging each individual scarab beetle elytron.

Additionally, sculptures featuring motifs such as skulls and birds are on display. These works express the 'darkness' hidden within Congo, a colony that continued to be exploited while Belgium advanced its civilization, referencing Belgium's history of slavery and gold plunder in Congo.

Jan Fabre's works, reflecting the light that streams into ESPACE LOUIS VUITTON TOKYO and revealing a spectrum of colors, simultaneously bring to the surface the profound darkness that lies behind them. This exhibition offers an excellent opportunity to witness a body of work that embodies his artistic theme of 'Metamorphosis'.


Jan Fabre Solo Exhibition: 'Tribute to Hieronymus Bosch in Congo (2011-2013)'
Dates: July 9 (Thursday) – September 23 (Wednesday, holiday) *Open daily
Hours: 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Venue: ESPACE LOUIS VUITTON TOKYO
5-7-5 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Louis Vuitton Omotesando Building 7F
Admission: Free