Emoplux

Curated by photographer Patrick Galbats and author-philosopher Camille Moreau, this exhibition explores our relationship with images and time. The Place du Jeu de Balle in Brussels, famous for its flea market, marks the endpoint of a life’s journey. It is here that objects end up after their owners’ death – trinkets, furniture, and personal mementos discarded once the heirs have taken what they wanted.

What particularly drew the attention of Patrick Galbats were the photographs, slides, and negatives—numerous and evocative of bygone eras. From daguerreotypes to disposable cameras, amateur photography has left its mark in every decade. These material traces of an evolving photographic practice subtly reveal our relationship with time and images. The marks left on the backs of these stained photographs, ripped and tattered from having spent time on the dirt of the pavement, testify to their journeys. Under the photographer’s eye, these marks of neglect become meaningful visual motifs, imbued with emotion.