Discovering BPS22: a hidden art gem in Charleroi

After 18 months of renovation, Charleroi’s visual art beacon has re-opened as the Art Museum of the Province of Hainaut. Promoted to museum status with responsibility for the province’s 6,000-work collection, BPS22 is now one of the largest art museums in Wallonia and Brussels, as well as one of the most audacious.

A striking industrial edifice in the upper quarter of the city, it was built to house the fine arts pavilion of the 1911 commercial and industrial exhibition. Testament to Charleroi’s 19th-century economic wealth, it was inspired by religious architecture and the cathedral-like building subsequently became a site for industrial workshops under the name Batîment Provincial Solvay, at 22 Boulevard Solvay. After falling into neglect during the 1990s, it was converted to exhibit contemporary art in 2000, and abbreviated to BPS22.

Under director Pierre-Olivier Rollin it has forged a reputation for bold exhibitions. From the singular universe of Charleroi-born sculptor Johan Muyle to punk culture in Europe and contemporary art in the world of football, the unifying theme continues to be local and popular culture. Rollin has also been committed to transforming the industrial hangar into a site that meets modern museum standards.

He is relieved and not without pride that the building has finally been elevated to museum status. “It’s now a tool and an efficient one,” he says. “The renovation has been a real success and not simply an architectural gesture. We are very happy with it.”

Rollin confronts the reality that Charleroi epitomises the region’s ongoing recovery from the post-industrial downturn. “We don’t have enormous budgets and we need to have a different point of view, so we always try and show something that cannot be seen elsewhere in Belgium.”

BPS22’s 2,500m² space is a place where art can be experienced on a large and a small scale, while the integrity and singularity of the architectural heritage has been preserved. The raw space of the 1,200m² Grand Hall lends itself to experimental art, while the new 800m² white box is a modernist area that better suits museum exhibits. Combined with more intimate spaces, including a small projection room, the hybrid building provides a totally modern museum environment both for visitors and the works it displays.

Led by Archiscénographie Roland, the renovation was completed on time and within its €4 million budget (excluding VAT and fees). Finance was forthcoming from the Brussels and Wallonia Federation, the Walloon region, Hainaut province and the city of Charleroi. The grand re-opening in September fell under the patronage of Mons 2015 European Capital of Culture. “This was a great opportunity as it gave the inauguration great energy,” says Rollin.

At the core of BPS22’s artistic and educational heritage and mission is a commitment to shine a light on the world. Rollin describes this objective as “having one’s feet on the ground with eyes looking up to the stars”. His view is that encouraging contemporary culture in its widest sense is necessary to meet the challenges of a future society. This means other artistic disciplines will be invited to use the museum, but always with a link to visual arts. The contemporary art vocation is expanded.

Rollin says: “We will also diversify to show classical and modern art as we now have the province’s collections that date from the 19th century.” The collection was started in the 1980s and consists of more than 6,000 works. It covers artists with a connection to the region or the Surrealist movement, such as Constantin Meunier, Pol Bury, Marcel Broodthaers, Anna Boch and Wim Delvoye. In addition, there are trusted international names who explore the relationship between art and power, among them Andy Warhol, Cindy Sherman and Banks Violette, plus an archive of documents on punk art.

The current exhibition Uchronies demonstrates the eclectic nature of the museum's collection. The show gathers more than 70 works, amalgamating various artistic schools and historical periods, with ancient, modern and contemporary art existing side by side and complementing or opposing each other.

The museum’s future programming reflects this international stance while promoting local creativity. “We will continue to develop a maximum of international projects,” says Rollin. Later this year, BPS22 will turn to its own collection to stage a major retrospective of the work of the late Belgian artist Marthe Wéry and in 2017, a solo show of skateboards by the Frenchman Raphaël Zarka. The latter promises to be another playful experience with a sculpture park and place for youngsters to skate. A skate park may not have been on the architect’s specifications, but it’s likely to be one of many surprise elements in the future of BPS22 as a dynamic player in the region’s cultural and social fabric.

BPS22, Boulevard Solvay 22, Charleroi. Adults €6, students €3, under-12s free.

This article first appeared in Wab (Wallonia and Brussels) magazine
Top photo: Leslie Artamonow. Photos used in video courtesy of BPS22/Donald Van Cardwell