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Laila Melchior

@lailamelchior

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Writer & curator
Coordinator @levelfive.brussels
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#OVerdeAmareloENosso #retomamosnossascores #nossabandeiraeverdeeamarela 🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷 by @lailamelchior

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a day ago

Throwback to the ‘General State of the Arts’ conversation - Brussels edition - 12.09.2026

@argos_arts , @levelfive.brussels, @rendezvousbxl and @kunstenpunt invited a group of artists and art-workers in Brussels, to reflect on questions about the future of the arts field and to exchange ideas how can we strengthen collaboration between artists, organisations and institutions.
@argos @levelfive @kunstenpunt

Thanks to everyone that attended the conversation and to Rendez-Vous for hosting.
photocredits: @nikolayevitch

These discussions were organized by the ‘Kunsthallen Committee’ (Kunsthal Ghent, Kunsthal Mechelen, Kunsthal Extra City Antwerp, Argos Brussels, Jester Genk and NW Aalst) and are part of a broader process by Kunstenpunt and FARO, culminating in a ‘General State of the Arts’ on the future of the visual arts in Flanders. taken in Level Five by @lailamelchior

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a month ago

Before the year ends: pics from “Ways of Going Home,” exhibition I curated at @kunsthalmechelen With the wonderful artists @angyvirpadilla, @ndessabekaanthony, #BenjaminMengistuNavet, @thisisacoup, @pile_leila and @sarah_duby_

Thank you so much to the team at KHM, @stevenopdebeeck2800 @meuleman_jessica, as well as @laurammherman @sorana_munsya @zeynep.kbt #HermanVanIngelgem. taken in Mechelen, Belgium by @lailamelchior

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10 months ago

Ways of Going Home features works by ClementineCoupau (@thisisacoup), Benjamin Mengistu Navet (@benjaminmengistunavet), Anthony Ngoya (@ndessabekaanthony), and Angyvir Padilla (@angyvirpadilla). It also includes special guest contributions by Sarah Duby (@sarah_duby_)and Leïla Pile (@pile_leila).

Borrowing its title from a novel by Chilean author Alejandro Zambra, the show reflects on the notion of home and the paths that lead us there, navigating between zones of familiarity and phantasmagoria.

The exhibition takes place within the framework of the Ernest Albert Invitational—formerly the Ernest Albert Grand Prize, now revamped to accommodate, among other things, more interdisciplinary practices—which Kunsthal Mechelen (@kunsthalmechelen) is coordinating for the first time this year with a jury to which Laura Herman (@laurammherman ), Zeynep Kubat (@zeynep.kbt), Sorana Munsya (@sorana_munsya) and Herman Van Ingelgem. by @lailamelchior

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a year ago

Meet the curator: @lailamelchior !
De Ernest Albert Invitational wordt gecureerd door Laila Melchior! Zij is schrijver en curator, en werkt vaak op de drempel tussen het individuele en collectieve maakprocessen. Ze creëert samen, bemiddelt ontmoetingen en omarmt niet-dominante perspectieven.

Melchior werkt als studio coordinator bij Level Five en organiseert het Young Curators’ Programma in het Belgische Paviljoen van de Venetië Biënnale.

Vier mee de opening deze vrijdag, 20 juni! Meer informatie over de tentoonstelling via onze website #linkinbio

📆 20.06
📍 De Garage, Onder-den-Toren 12 Mechelen
🕔 18:00 – 23:30

EN
Ernest Albert Invitational – Ways of Going Home is curated by Laila Melchior! She is a writer and curator whose practice unfolds into exhibition-making, public programming, forms of writing and critical approach. Investigating the threshold of individual creation and collaborative bodies, she often works by creating together, mediating encounters and embracing non-dominant perspectives in this process.

She works as Studio Coordinator at Level Five—Artist Cooperative Brussels and runs the Young Curators’ Programme at the Belgian Pavilion, Venice Biennale Arte.

Join us in celebrating the opening of the exhibition on the 20th of June! More info about the exhibition can be found through our website #linkinbio

Foto @anamgomezsuarez

#kunsthalmechelen #contemporaryart #ernestalbertinvitational by @lailamelchior

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a year ago

I am very happy to announce my book launch on March 15, 3pm at @mhkamuseum ! Come and celebrate with me!

Book launch Elen Braga (MER. Books)

Participants: Elen Braga (artist), Laila Melchior (writer and curator; coordinator Level Five, Brussels), Paulo Miyada (artistic director Instituto Tomie Ohtake, São Paulo; assistant curator Centre Pompidou, Paris), Ilse Roosens (curator Mu.ZEE, Ostend), and Joanna Zielińska (senior curator M HKA)
Moderated by Pieter Vermeulen (book editor)

Join us for the public launch of the first comprehensive monograph, published by MER. Books, celebrating 15 years of work by Belgian-Brazilian artist Elen Braga.
Renowned for her multidisciplinary approach—spanning performance, textiles, installation, sculpture, video, and public art—Braga’s practice explores themes of resilience, self-transcendence, religion, mythology, and identity. Her labor-intensive processes push both physical and conceptual boundaries, weaving together her Brazilian heritage and life in Belgium.

This beautifully designed book features essays by Raphael Fonseca, Laila Melchior, Paulo Miyada, Ilse Roosens, and Joanna Zielińska, along with Braga’s own writings.

📅 Saturday, March 15th, 2025, 15:00 - 16:30

📍 M HKA — Auditorium (Leuvenstraat 32, Antwerpen)

📖 Followed by a book signing session with the artist

Pictures by
Emilio Azevedo
Marina Lima
Buro Bonito

With support of CC Strombeek, Mu.ZEE, KIOSK, VONK, Wouters Gallery and the Flemish Government.

@merbooks.studiolucderycke
@mhkamuseum
@wouters.brussels
@kioskgent
@ccstrombeek_expo
@kunstplaatsvonk
@vermeulenpi
@crevitscharlotte
@liesserdons
@mu.zee taken in M HKA - Museum of Contemporary Art Antwerp by @lailamelchior

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2 years ago

Closing weekend! Elen Braga's exhibition "als een leeuw in een kooi" curated by Laila Melchior is on view until tomorrow. Don't miss this one!

“Als een leeuw in een kooi” explores the topic of power in various forms and narratives, examining its manifestations, and embodiments, as well as its implications on the individual. The show draws inspiration from the tales associated with Nebuchadnezzar, the ancient Babylonian king, best known for his military campaigns, architectural feats, and for having foreshadowed the apocalypse in a dream.

Imagining Belgium as an “entrance door” to Europe, the artist interrogates totalizing discourses and their promises of unity, happiness, security, and goodness. She challenges the audience with works that reflect both the viewpoint of a typical community on the outskirts of Brussels, but also adopts the perspective of its newcomers.

With many thanks to a great number of people that made this show happen! ❤️

@elenbraga_arts
@lailamelchior
@ccstrombeek_expo
@wouters.brussels
@kunstplaatsvonk
@vandevelde.michiel
#maudgyssels taken in Cultuurcentrum Strombeek Grimbergen by @lailamelchior

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2 years ago

Images of the work “flesh, stone, iron and clay, part 1” in my solo exhibition “Als een leeuw in een kooi” curated by @lailamelchior at @ccstrombeek_expo

“For her first institutional solo exhibition in Belgium, Elen Braga reflects on themes and formats that have traversed her practice since its early stages. With new productions ranging from video and tapestry to ceramic experimentations, the exhibition echoes over a decade of work.

Als een leeuw in een kooi borrows its title from a popular song by Willy Sommers in which a speaker waits for their lover while turning “round and round, like a lion in a cage.” Considering the figure of the lion, Braga confronts the Schlager lyrics to the heraldic symbol of stateliness in the coats of arms of Belgium and Flanders.

Often resorting to classic narratives as entry points to her work, Braga draws inspiration from local politics and the biblical tales associated with Nebuchadnezzar, the ancient Babylonian king who foreshadowed the apocalypse in a dream. She dwells on the narrative of the end of times beyond the transition between the worldly and the divine. As an account of the dissolution of politics, the apocalypse could also be understood as a myth praising an idealised notion of tradition against diversity.

Exploring the topic of power, Braga delves into the multiple forces that shape everyday life and history, informing our collective and individual ideals. She connects private and political contemporary realities and unveils junctures where community, myth, grand state affairs, desires and beliefs meet.

With the works on show, she taps into the transience of dominating positions while commenting on the relation between present and future as a projection. Returning to Nebuchadnezzar’s tale, she focuses on the moments of fall to examine traditional representations of power as they collapse before us.” (Laila Melchior)

📸 by @wedocumentart

“Flesh, stone, iron and clay part 1” was a video performance made with support of @kunstplaatsvonk and with participation of students of Hasselt, dancers and models. by @lailamelchior

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2 years ago

"Als een leeuw in een kooi", Elen Braga’s eerste institutionele tentoonstelling in België, zal onder andere haar nieuwe oeuvre aan video performances laten zien. Met de steun van @kunstplaatsvonk produceerde ze het voorbije jaar "Flesh, stone, iron and clay." (2024). Part 1, 2 en 3 zullen over enkele weken samen te zien zijn!

“Flesh, Stone, Iron and Clay” geeft een studie weer van de gebaren die het individuele of collectieve lichaam gebruiken in een retoriek van macht en autoriteit. Het onderzoekt ook de invloed van collectieve ideologieën en geloven en diens impact op het leven en de keuzes van individuen. Het werk belichaamt persoonlijke narratieven verweven met beelden van sociale media en tv journaals.

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"Als een leeuw in een kooi", Elen Braga's first institutional show in Belgium, will exhibit a body of new video performances. With the support of @kunstplaatsvonk she produced "Flesh, stone, iron and clay." (2024) in three parts. They’ll all be on view in a couple of weeks!

“Flesh, Stone, Iron and Clay” is a study of the gestural movements of the individual or collective body in the rhetoric of power and authority. It is also an exploration of the influence of collective ideologies and beliefs and their impact on the lives and choices of individuals. The video incorporates personal narratives interwoven with images from social media and television news. by @lailamelchior

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2 years ago

NAJAARSEXPO:
Elen Braga - Als een leeuw in een kooi
25.10.2024 - 26.01.2025
curator: Laila Melchior

Voor haar solotentoonstelling in CC Strombeek zal Elen Braga reflecteren over beelden die verband houden met het construeren en belichamen van utopische idealen.
Voortbordurend op een reflectie die kenmerkend is voor haar praktijk, zal ze de notie van macht en haar gevolgen verkennen. Dit aan de hand van nieuwe videowerken en keramiek, alsook een grootschalige banner die als een digitale assemblage gemaakt werd.
Door dit onderwerp naar het lokale niveau te brengen bevraagt Braga de standpunten van een typische gemeenschap in de rand van Brussel. De kunstenaar reflecteert over de uiteenlopende schalen van macht.

Dagdagelijkse levens zijn immers nauw verbonden met de grootsheid van de beslissingen gemaakt in de context van de Europese Unie. De tentoonstelling verbeeldt België als een “toegangsdeur” tot Europa - ten minste op politiek niveau. Hiervoor duikt Als een leeuw in een kooi in de ambiguïteiten die zijn ingebed in discours over onder meer totaliteit, geluk, veiligheid, gerechtigheid en goedheid.

Opening op 25.10, 18-21u. Meer info via link in bio.

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FALL EXHIBITION:
Elen Braga - Als een leeuw in een kooi
25.10.2024 - 26.01.2025
curator: Laila Melchior

For her solo exhibition at CC Strombeek, Elen Braga will reflect on images involved in building and embodying utopian ideals.
Continuing a reflection that permeates her practice, she will explore the notion of power and its precipitations, presenting new works in video and ceramics, as well as a large-scale banner made as a digital assemblage.
Bringing the discussion to the local level, Braga interrogates the standpoint of a typical community on the outskirts of Brussels. The artist meditates on multiple scales of power, in which the day-to-day lives are closely connected to the grandeur of the decisions made in the context of the European Union. Imagining Belgium as an “entrance door” to Europe, at least on the political level, the exhibition delves into the ambiguities embedded in discourses of totality, happiness, security, justice and goodness.

Opening: 25.10, 6-9pm. More info via link in bio. by @lailamelchior

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2 years ago

𝘓’𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘴 - 2024 𝘸𝘪𝘱

Collection privée

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Projet co-réalisé avec @emilio.azv et la curatrice @lailamelchior

“La photographie, dont le verre et la lumière qui le traverse sont des matières fondamentales, a traditionnellement été comprise comme une ressource permettant d’enregistrer fidèlement la réalité. L’image elle-même a toujours été centrale dans le processus d’objectivation, de traduction et d’importation des modes de vie de la forêt selon les normes de la colonisation extractiviste des territoires. La démarche de Melzi et Azevedo cherche à penser la place de l’image comme outil de connaissance et de pouvoir (dans un moment historique où la question de la légitimité d’institutions telles que les «musées universels» est plus que jamais d’actualité), tout en prenant en compte un changement de paradigme quant à la prévalence des droits des humains (certains humains) sur les non-humains (et sur d’autres humains).
Par la richesse des détails préservés sur son support dur, l’image faite à la chambre (grand format) représente la forme documentaire par excellence. Avant toute image agrandie, la pellicule des diapositives contient de très grandes quantités d’informations enregistrées en couleur (positif), plutôt qu’en négatif comme c’est le cas dans la photographie industrielle et commerciale.
Melzi et Azevedo se servent de cette technique d’une manière particulière pour proposer des fichiers d’archives virtuelles, en puissance, sans nécessairement les actualiser sur d’autres supports.
Ces «archives» ne sont pas seulement le résultat d’un découpage et d’un réarrangement des images, elles contiennent une critique qui s’élabore à travers le choix des échelles et de la latence.”

Extrait de 𝘓’𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘴 par Laila Melchior by @lailamelchior

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2 years ago

Happy to share this new project ☺️
・・・
Laila Melchior @lailamelchior , comissaria independent, és la mentora de la residència a Brussel·les amb @thegreencorridor.brussels, acompanyant el projecte seleccionat i vinculant-lo amb el context de la ciutat.

🔸Ha impartit classes a l'Institut d'Educació Superior de Brasília-IESB.

🔸Guanyadora del Premi Lichen per a Comissaris Emergents 2021/2022, ha curat exposicions i programes públics a @kioskgent, a @jestergenk, a @espace_krajcberg, a @caixaculturalrj y a Centre Cultural Sor Juana Inés de la Creu a Ciutat de Mèxic.

🔸Ha estat coordinadora del projecte Programa de Joves Comissaris vinculat a l'equip de comissaris i a l'exposició del Pavelló de Bèlgica a la @labiennale.

📍Més informació sobre la convocatòria a l’enllaç de la bio

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Laila Melchior @lailamelchior, comisaria independiente, es la mentora de la residencia en Bruselas con @thegreencorridor.brussels, acompañando el proyecto seleccionado y vinculándolo con el contexto de la ciudad.

🔸Ha impartido clases en el Instituto de Educación Superior de Brasilia-IESB.

🔸Ganadora del Premio Lichen para Comisarios Emergentes 2021/2022, ha curado exposiciones y programas públicos en @kioskgent, en @jestergenk, en @espace_krajcberg, en @caixaculturalrj y en Centro Cultural Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz en Ciudad de México.

🔸Ha sido coordinadora del proyecto Programa de Jóvenes Comisarios vinculado al equipo de comisarios y a la exposición del Pabellón de Bélgica en @labiennale.

📍Más información sobre la convocatoria al enlace de la bio

#Repost @eart_barcelona and @thegreencorridor.brussels with @use.repost_ taken in Barcelona by @lailamelchior

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