In and Out of Brussels

T.J. Demos and Hilde Van Gelder's project In and Out of Brussels took the form of a series of panel discussions about four films by Brussels-based artists that investigate the status of (post)colonial Africa in the imagery and imaginary of the west. In addition to Renzo Martens's Episode III (Enjoy Poverty) from 2009, which triggered the project, there are three new productions from 2011 and 2012: Sven Augustijnen's Spectres, Herman Asselberghs's Speech Act, and Els Opsomer's Building Stories #001 [That Distant Piece of Mine]. I participated in the discussion on Asselberghs's film. The book of In and Out of Brussels, which documents the debates and contains a DVD with film excerpts, is available now.