The Gille going topsy-turvy

PRESS RELEASE
Exhibition
« The Gille going topsy-turvy»
From 06.02.2013 to 09.03.2012
at the international Carnival and Mask Museum, Binche
From 06.02.2013 to 09.03.2014 the international Carnival and Mask Museum presents
the exhibition “The Gille going topsy-turvy” (Le Gille sens dessus dessous). It deals with
the Gille, the principal character of the Binche carnival.
The Gille will be presented according to four themes which are themselves dealt with from
two different perspectives which are diametrically opposed – however, by taking a closer
look, this antagonism might turn out to be quite relative. The four themes are: the history of
the Gille, the Gille, the image of the Gille and the Gille in art. The two perspectives are, on
the one hand, the official and expected one and, on the other hand, the surprising, funny or
scandalous one which has never been shown before. The exhibition presents the history of the
Gille and some exceptions which have brought about certain rules which today have become
absolutely binding; it shows the Gille today, in Binche but also elsewhere; it deals with
communication linked to carnival and advertising campaigns using and abusing the image of
the Gille and, finally, the exhibition presents objects of art which give the Gille the status of
an icon. Among the artists whose works are presented are Jean Winance, Albert Chavepeyer,
Edmond Dubrunfaut, but also Serge Poliart, Pierre Alechinsky, Sara Conti, Pierre Kroll etc.
The exhibition also includes two games for small and bigger children…The winners receive a
reproduction of caricatures by Pierre Kroll!
On the occasion of the inauguration on 5th February, a children’s book published by the
Mask museum and the Renaissance du Livre (La Belgique à petits pas collection), “Un
carnaval de Binche pas comme les autres” will be presented.
In 2013 the museum will also organise a series of events around the theme of the king of the
Binche carnival: on 18th May, within the framework of the International Day of Museums,
there will be a film festival which will give you the opportunity to live or relive the carnival
of Binche, or to revive precious memories! From 23th June, within the framework of Art Tour
2013, Coco Fronsac and the collective By-Product will present their view of the mask, of
carnival…and of the Gille through an exhibition. In autumn, an exhibition of photographs will
be organised presenting portraits of inhabitants of Binche and the intangible side of carnival.
We invite you to visit our website www.museedumasque.be regularly and to take a look at our
agenda on events about the Gille…
In short, there will be an exhibition and a year of events organised to present the Gille as you
have never seen him, or as you meet him every year in the streets, accompanied by drummers,
the Gille different from the unrealistic images in books or on TV. We will present the Gille
who lives and celebrates carnival, who weeps over the end of carnival every Ash Wednesday,
the Gille personified by you or with whom you share the emotions of carnival, and also the
Gille who expects you throughout this year at the Mask Museum.
Practical information
Musée international du Carnaval et du Masque – Rue Saint Moustier, 10 – 7130 Binche
www.museedumasque.be
Exhibition curator :
Emilie Botteldoorn, scientific collaborator of the Mask museum
Contact for the press: Sandrine Baron
Tel. : 064/23 89 21 Mobile : 0492 – E-mail : [email protected]
Contact for Dutch, German or English speaking journalists : Sabine Mäuseler
Tel.: 064/23 89 23 – E-mail: [email protected]