Beyond Borders

L'Atelier de l'Imagier - TinyGallery (Brussels) and Archives nationales du monde du travail (Roubaix) are presenting a transnational exhibition that sheds light on the phenomenon of labor migration through the little-known history of the industrial adventure of the Walloons in Sweden. This story of the mining and metallurgical industry takes the visitor from the 17th century to the present day, from Wallonia and northern France to Sweden. It is illustrated by exceptional images of the working world, drawn from the photographic heritage preserved in Belgium, in an immersive setup combining large-format photographs and digital projections.

What?

The starting point of this exhibition is the fate of nearly 5,000 Walloons who left to settle in Sweden in the 17th century, whose labor contracts have been discovered.

These Walloons brought with them their expertise and techniques as master blacksmiths, contributing to the fame of the Swedish metallurgical industry. The origin of this adventure lies with the Liège natives Guillaume de Bèche and Louis de Geer, who established mines, forges, and factories in Sweden.

Today, thousands of Swedes claim Walloon heritage. The "Valloners," or "Swedish Walloons," have been considered the fathers of the Swedish metallurgical industry for four centuries.

This story of the "great departure," which highlights the expertise and legacy of the Walloon migrants of the 17th century, continues by evoking the glorious industrial past of 19th-century Wallonia through a remarkable selection of photographs: images of factories, machines, construction sites, as well as portraits of workers, women, and children at work, some of which are among the oldest known industrial photographs in Europe.

How?

The Trans-fer exhibition showcases these photographic collections through a staging orchestrated by the Imagier Workshop. It prominently features photographs preserved by several Belgian museums, partners of this exhibition.

Notably, through digitized and remastered glass plates, visitors can (re)discover the industrial epic of Wallonia, which, let’s not forget, was the world’s second industrial power in the 19th century.

The exhibition also features contemporary photographs, such as those of the descendants of the "Valloners" in Sweden, and digital creations made from archival documents. It is also a project with, for, and about the citizens, centered on their history and expertise. An emotional blending of collections in a multimedia fresco designed to engage the visitor. The archival images thus become revelations of history, impressions, and shared emotions.

Where?

The exhibition is presented in the iconic Motte-Bossut spinning mill, a true industrial castle built in the heart of the city of Roubaix (France). This former industrial site has housed the National Archives of the World of Work since 1993.

Archives nationales du monde du travail
78 boulevard du Général Leclerc
59100 Roubaix

Around the Exhibition...

The exhibition is accompanied by a scientific, educational, and cultural program centered around the theme of labor migration and photography.

• Guided tours of the exhibition
• School visits and workshops
• Youth novel: forthcoming, free for schools, available at the ANMT reception
• Virtual exhibition
• Monthly features
• Reading Nights: January 23-24, 2025, date to be confirmed
• Odestân Trio concert: February 21, 2025
• Study day: March 2025, date to be confirmed
• And more…

European Heritage Days: September 20, 21, and 22, 2024
Guided tour of the ANMT
ANMT newsletter: monthly

Partners

• Bois-du-Luc Mining and Sustainable Development Museum
• Photography Museum in Charleroi
• Metallurgy and Industry Museum in Liège
• The Wallonia-Brussels Federation - General Heritage Service - PEP’s
• WBI Wallonia-Brussels International