Cultural Compass: From novel to opera, Rococo fashion and the art of skateboarding

13 April 2025

Every Sunday, Belga English picks its favourite events from the cultural agenda. This week: Madame Bovary gets an operatic debut, an immersive look at Rococo fashion and society and the world of skateboarding comes to Brussels.

Bovary, 12 April-19 April, La Monnaie, Brussels

The character of Emma Bovary, a dreamy romantic yearning for passion and luxury, has been a mainstay in literature since Gustave Flaubert’s classic novel Madame Bovary shocked French society in 1857. Dealing with themes of adultury, despair and recklessness, the story is a perfect fit for the operatic stage.

Composer Harold Noben and director Michael De Cock will premiere their lavish adaptation at La Monnaie in a modern portrayal of the groundbreaking story. De Cock has stayed mostly faithful to the novel, but implemented a few changes that result in “a contemporary and feminist” remodelling of the story. The themes remain relevant in today’s world and the story continues to captivate the public.

Rococo Reboot!, until 22 February, Modemuseum, Hasselt

Far from the cliché of pastel gowns and towering wigs, Rococo Reboot delves deeper into the social, functional and symbolic layers of 18th- and early 19th-century dress. This exhibition looks at fashion from 1750-1830 through a contemporary lens.

Through themes like Anatomy of an Outfit, From Court to City and Spotlight on Menswear, the exhibition reveals how fashion shaped - and was shaped by - daily life, rituals, hygiene and status. Expect AI-driven reconstructions, tactile experiences with fabrics and satirical prints that explore the humour and complexity of the era.

The immersive experience also highlights how Rococo aesthetics continue to inspire today’s designers, featuring works by Manolo Blahnik, Meryll Rogge, Ester Manas, Dries Van Noten and Raf Simons.

Skateboard: A Design Story, until 14 September, Design Museum, Brussels 

While skateboards generally evoke images of athleticism and balance, they also have a rich history of design and cultural impact. This travelling exhibition, which originated from the Design Museum London, explores how skateboarding has evolved over seven decades.

^{© TWANE PHOTOGRAPHY / DESIGN MUSEUM BRUSSELS}

Early homemade boards and the most recent models are part of the 100 rare skateboards and 150 objects that make up this exhibition, tracing its transformation from a 1950s pastime to a global movement.

More than an object, the skateboard is shown as a connector of people and ideas. The exhibition is accompanied by a programme of talks, workshops and collaborations with Brussels-based skate communities. It celebrates the intersections of design, technology, social connection and collective memory.

(MOH)

_{#FlandersNewsService | La Monnaie ©BELGA PHOTO ERIC LALMAND}

Ongoing events

Antwerp
Hans Op De Beeck: Nocturnal Journey, KMSKA
COMPASSION, MAS
Family Happiness, Red Star Line
Panamarenko: Infinite Imagination, KMKSA
Exhibitions at FOMU
Fashion and Interiors: A Gendered Affair, MoMu

Brussels
Berlinde De Bruyckere: Khorós, Bozar
When We See Us, Bozar
Steve McCurry: Icons

Ghent
Jules De Bruyckner, MSK
Michiel Hendryckx: Beauty as Resistance

Leuven
Grace Schwindt: A History of Touch, Museum M
Sigefride Bruna Hautman, Museum M

Ostend
Testerep, Venetian Galleries

Kortrijk
F**klore. Reinventing Tradition, Abby

Hasselt
Modelling Life, Z33