With unveiled face – what the portrait reveals of myself and of the others ('A visage découvert, ce que le portrait dit de moi et des autres')

Abstract

This article describes and depicts the encounter of a group of migrant French language trainees with very different background with the environment of classic paintings in Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium. Having never been in a museum before, these students have special ways of meeting this environment, of bringing their own cultural references and experiences to this collaborative project. The project photographs each student in front of the chosen work with an object that has been carefully selected both for its connection with the work and with a personal experience. This represents a very emotional moment for the participants: They allow themselves to be photographed and take stage by investing and presenting personally selected works. A dialogue emerges between the art-piece and the personal reality of each participant. The outcome is a triptych of pictures in combination with a statement.