Mondo Cane is the title of the exhibition by Brussels artists Jos de Gruyter and Harald Thys that represented the Belgian pavilion and won a special mention award during the last Venice Art Biennial in 2019 is now showing at the Bozar in Brussels.
On one side, this exhibition showcases a reassuring world, with familiar craftsmen of yesteryear, working their old trades and on the other, a darker and more disturbing side , populated with the psychotic or mentally ill, common criminals, collaborators, spies or souls possessed of by devil. To add to the general feeling of discomfort, about half of these dolls are automated, performing repetitive actions as you move around. A bit of the Adventures of Tintin but for adults, if you like…
This exhibit is held at the Bozar only until 21st of July 2020
Pictures of the “Mondo Cane†Exposition
![THE KNIFE-GRINDER OF WEXFORD](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50118846248_cc73b39769_h.jpg)
The Knife-Grinder of Wexford
![FRANCELINE DE VEUGELEIR](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50119499061_5c38c39f93_h.jpg)
Franceline De Veugeleir
![MOSQUETERO SIN DINERO](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50119831862_631443893c_h.jpg)
Mosquetero sin dinero of his real name Raf Smulkens
![DE BELDER GUIDO](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50119134263_3654aafeab_h.jpg)
De Belder Guido, the inventor of Magical Abstract Realist Romanticism
![DE BELDER GUIDO](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50119714571_360d6ffc49_h.jpg)
Closeup on the face of De Belder Guido, the painter
![THE RAT WOMAN](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50119885191_b3089bd6cc_h.jpg)
The Rat woman
At her feet the rat and the filth
![THE RAT WOMAN](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50119323058_24fe2d410e_h.jpg)
The face of the rat woman
![ROCCO SWENTY DI MALAGA](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50118928447_2d746d86d0_h.jpg)
Rocco Swenty Di Malaga, the ventriloquist
![JACOBINA BIENEBOL](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50119749731_f8d668ee79_h.jpg)
Jacobina Bienebol, the daugher of the preacher
![JACOBINA BIENEBOL](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50119738766_b680749283_h.jpg)
Closep-up on the face of Jacobina Bienebol
![ILSE KOCH](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50118892962_e2fd8973c0_h.jpg)
Ilse Koch
![THE SWISS](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50119784292_deb5336f0c_h.jpg)
The Swiss murderer
![KLOTTEMANS](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50119025963_adcd5531f0_h.jpg)
The face of Klottemans
![IRMGARD SPECK](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50118151008_842756b525_h.jpg)
Irmgard Speck, the introverted
![IRMGARD SPECK](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50118941417_92a0f4d87b_h.jpg)
Closer look at the detail of the face of Irmgard Speck
![FLAP AND FLOP](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50118681071_0762171928_h.jpg)
Flip standing on the cart
![KRISTINUS OPLINUS](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50118936282_28f539a66f_h.jpg)
Kristinus Oplinus, the devout catholic turned Satan’s spawn
![THE TOWN CRIER](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50118111593_71017661e3_h.jpg)
Bartholomeus De Bie, the bell man
![ERNST WOLLEMENGER](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50120051247_a90bf4a8dd_h.jpg)
Ernst Wollemenger, the STASI spy
![ERNST WOLLEMENGER](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50119827371_45405bdd93_h.jpg)
Ernst Wollemenger doll close-up
![REVEREND SIMONS](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50119850736_60d01a3bed_h.jpg)
Samuel Simons playing the piano
![REVEREND SIMONS](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50119851571_af286a4788_h.jpg)
Reverand Simons
![LATHGRETA TOFT](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50118896727_8a5c62c327_h.jpg)
![MADAME LEGRAND](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50119640871_32125121de_h.jpg)
Madame Legrand, the German collaborator