House of ENERGIA

Curated by Benedicte Goesaert & Kathleen Weyts for TheMerode.

At TheMerode, art is central to our mission. It shapes how we see, listen, and imagine — both individually and collectively. Each exhibition is more than a display: it is an encounter, a dialogue that continues to unfold beyond the walls of our club.

For Energia, we invited Kathleen Weyts, editor-in-chief of GLEAN, in collaboration with Benedicte Goesaert, independent curator and advisor. Their combined perspectives open the exhibition to both local depth and international resonance, reflecting TheMerode’s mission to create a meeting ground where curators, thinkers, and institutions join forces to enrich the cultural landscape of Brussels and beyond.

The exhibition brings together more than 140 works from over 30 lenders — artists, collectors, galleries, and institutions from Belgium and Brazil. It features landmark works such as Cildo Meireles’ iconic Projeto Coca-Cola (1970s), Sebastião Salgado’s Serra Pelada, and Paloma Bosquê’s Plate | Placa, while also presenting a new generation of artists who are defining today’s artistic scene.

By weaving voices across disciplines, continents, and generations, Energia reflects the richness of a shared cultural heritage. This dialogue extends beyond the exhibition itself, offering a critical and editorial perspective that amplifies its reach. At TheMerode, we believe art does not provide easy answers, but better questions. With Energia, we invite you to sense, reflect, and imagine anew — to experience the currents of energy that link Belgium and Brazil, and to feel the transformative force art brings into our collective life.

My heartfelt gratitude goes to Emmanuelle Indekeu, Chief Art Officer at TheMerode, whose vision and dedication continue to shape our artistic program and made Energia possible. Warm thanks as well

to Benedicte Goesaert and Kathleen Weyts for their curatorial insight and the depth they brought to this exhibition. And a special acknowledgment to Florence Lechevallier, whose remarkable work behind the scenes contributed greatly to bringing this project to life.

With thanks also to all the lenders who made the exhibition possible.

Lynn Tytgat - CEO at TheMerode

 

Artists presented

Marlene Almeida, Denilson Baniwa, Bruno Baptistelli, Kasper Bosmans, Paloma Bosquê, Amélie Bouvier, Dirk Braeckman, Elen Braga, Lieven De Boeck, Edith Dekyndt, Lia D Castro, Julien Creuzet, Marcin Dudek, Pélagie Gbaguidi, Anna Bella Geiger, Hudinilson JR, Karámujinho, Bart Lodewijks, Fernando Marques Penteado, Rodrigo Matheus, Cildo Meireles, Jota Mombaça, Paulo Monteiro, Nástio Mosquito, Aline Motta, Sofie Anny Nicea, Otobong Nkanga, Antonio Obá, Els Opsomer, Camille Orso Caël, Dalton Paula, Rosana Paulino, Marina Rheingantz, Sebastião Salgado, Françoise Schein, Rebecca Sharp, Paula Siebra, Miguel Rio Branco, Ante Timmermans, Luc Tuymans, Philippe Van Snick, Erika Verzutti, Aline Xavier.

Watch Benedicte Goesaert & Kathleen Weyts' interview for TheMerode.

Explore the exhibition and view all the artworks from 03 September 2025 to 31 March 2026 at TheMerode.