The starting point for this exhibition was the world of difference that exists between the cities of Bruges and Warsaw. While Bruges has survived through the centuries, in WWII Warsaw was devasta­ted, then carefully reconstructed. Polish artists provided the point of departure. From there the exhibition opens up in a number of simultaneous directions, including artists from Germany, Austria, Croatia, Albania, Czech Republic... even extending the scope to the origins of American Pop Art, and ending with the work of Japanese artist Takashi Murakami.

The exhibition curated by Luc Tuymans and Tommy Simoens, gives a unique vision of the arts of an extraordinary region as their influences ripple out all over the world and back again. The exhibition is full of para doxes: light and dark, East and West, the experience of the past in the present and the pains of history. Spread over 5 locations across the city, it includes the work of over 40 artists.

The selection of animation artists was curated by Edwin Carels (KASK/HoGent). Their work forms an integral part of the exhibition and there will be a number of screenings in the presence of the artists held at Cinema Lumière.

Forum+ [Concertgebouw]

Nemanja Cvijanović, Igor Eškinja, Zlatko Kopljar, David Maljković, Zbigniew Rybczyński

Arentshuis

Mirosław Bałka, Hans Bellmer, Guillaume Bijl, Piotr Bosacki, Pavel Büchler, Armen Eloyan, Isa Genzken, Maria Lassnig, Takashi Murakami, Mark Neville, Sigmar Polke, Quay Brothers (Stephen and Timothy), Neo Rauch, Bruno Schulz, Tommy Simoens, Andy Warhol

Memling in Sint-Jan – Hospitaalmuseum

Paweł Althamer (till 09.01.2011) , Zlatko Kopljar, Igor Kovalyov

Stadshallen

Mirosław Bałka, Wojciech Bąkowski, Guillaume Bijl, Piotr Bosacki, Armen Eloyan, Isa Genzken, Tadeusz Kantor, Alex Katz, Zlatko Kopljar, David Maljković, Takashi Murakami, Deimantas Narkevičius, Priit Pärn, Neo Rauch, Andreas Slominski, Jan Švankmajer, Paul Thek, Luc Tuymans, Meyer Vaisman, Andy Warhol, Weegee

Grootseminarie

Mirosław Bałka, Walerian Borowczyk, Pavel Büchler, Katharina Fritsch, Klara Kristalova, Zbigniew Libera, Sigmar Polke, Anri Sala, Alina Szapocznikow, Andrzej Wróblewski