Expo: From Tzar to Emperor (Bozar, Brussel, 15-1-2006)

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Other

The Bozar (palace of fine arts) is an experience in itself. The place has more halls, rooms, stairs, cellars, doors, alcoves and functions than any-one alive or dead probably knows. This is not just a place for exhibits but also one for concerts and performing arts and I'm pretty sure unknown things will be going on in hidden cellars somewhere beneath it...

I never try to grasp where in the building I am for I know I will never know that anyway. The only thing you will know is whether you are near the main entrance or the side entrance or underground or above ground. Anything else is mere speculation...

But enough about this maze of a building! The exhibit we came for is one of the many Europalia: Russia exhibits (you can still visit this one until sunday 22-1). And as the title says it is about the Russian rulers.
I wasn't really sure what to expect. Would it be treasures? Or just a lot of information and portraits? Or..?

Well, it was mostly treasures ;-)
A lot of the objects shown were richly decorated religious objects given to monasteries and churches by the tzars. And objects of immense beauty they had owned. And icons. And yes portraits too and information. And part of Peter the Great's collection of curiosities. And scale models of great buildings (I love those!).

So loads and loads of treasures; especially from the time of the tzars. One of the nicest things of the exhibit were the two excerpts of old black&white movies they showed. One about the coronation of Ivan the Terrible and one of the marriage of Catherine the Great.
The light on the objects could have been better though and it was a bit too busy too but otherwise this was a great experience. And we've learned some more about the Russian rulers which is always worthwhile and interesting ;-)

NOVGOROD ;-p