Remixing Industrial Pasts: Constructing the Identity of the Minett

On 27 February, the multimedia exhibition “Remixing Industrial Pasts: Constructing the Identity of the Minett” will be opened in the Massenoire, a former industrial hall in Belval. The exhibition is part of the European Capital of Culture Esch2022 programme. It has been curated by the C²DH REMIX team in collaboration with the Milan-based artist collective Tokonoma and 2F Architettura.

Visitors will travel through the region’s industrial past in a time machine whose audiovisual narrative unfolds around three main themes: industry, people and landscapes. Using analogue slide projections and audio collages, a remix of fragmented stories is presented throughout the exhibition hall: the violent erasure of natural landscapes by industrial sites; the relentless growth and transformation of industrial towns; the contemporary perception of pollution; the housing and living conditions of men and women coming to the area in the hope of finding a better life for themselves and their families; the self-perception, meaning-making and identity disputes that can be found in the region’s rich visual heritage; the sometimes tangible, sometimes intangible impact of the border on the flow of materials, people and ideas. Historical films, photographs and documents, sounds and voices will engage all the senses, turning the industrial history of the Minett into an immersive experience for visitors.