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Why do our streets have the names they have? How are they chosen? As markers of the public space, these signs tell much more of a story than you might think.
Through this capsule exhibition dedicated to street signs, discover how the names of the city’s and region’s thoroughfares reflect the history and values of an era. Whether they evoke famous figures or important places, these names help create the collective urban memory.
The exhibition offers a different take on current questions surrounding the feminisation and decolonisation of Brussels’ public spaces. By taking a closer look at the names in the city, we think about the people we choose to honour… and those who remain in obscurity.
Taken from the Museum’s collections, the street signs are presented alongside drawings and engravings depicting Brussels and its inhabitants, works that are usually kept in storage. This concise and accessible exhibition looks afresh at the urban landscape and invites you to see thecity in a new light.
An exhibition that places it’s the history and contemporary debates of Brussels in the context of its public spaces.