In a world where the destructive power of globalisation sounds each day stronger, the Brussels based organisation Beleza Design & Art wants to create bridges between cultures without neglecting the fundamental values of each culture. The projects we organise want to be a inspiring dialogue between equal partners.
Doing so, we feel connected to the philosophy of the French-Antillean writer Edouard Glissant (1928-2011), who also made the bridge between his mother country Martinique in the Caribbean and his European hometown Paris. Like Glissant, Beleza Design & Art makes this transatlantic bridge, mainly between Belgium and Brazil.
In his quest for finding a solution to the problems of cosmopotalism at the beginning of the twentieth century, Glissant developed his concept of ‘mondialité’. In order to be able to conquer the homogenizing power of globalisation and at the same time not fall into neolocalism and neonationalism, he suggested to look for a third intersection. This alternative should give us the opportunity to go globally into dialogue without loosing our own identity and local culture.
As a metaphor for his thoughts Glissant referred to the differences between the archipelago and the continent. While at the continent ideas about the emergence of culture and tradition are tied up and monolithic, the archipelago offers a much more open and interesting society model. Because each island has its own habits and sometimes-even language, but has at the same time a relationship with the other islands and other historically related overseas countries. That's why personal and collective identities can influence each other in a positive way on these islands, without the fear of loosing one’s own personality.
After acquaintance with the thoughts of Glissant, Beleza Design & Art is even more convinced of the value of our projects for the broader society. Through design and art we want to make people confident enough to open up for the other, and to strive for this fascinating, peaceful intersection.
Doing so, we feel connected to the philosophy of the French-Antillean writer Edouard Glissant (1928-2011), who also made the bridge between his mother country Martinique in the Caribbean and his European hometown Paris. Like Glissant, Beleza Design & Art makes this transatlantic bridge, mainly between Belgium and Brazil.
In his quest for finding a solution to the problems of cosmopotalism at the beginning of the twentieth century, Glissant developed his concept of ‘mondialité’. In order to be able to conquer the homogenizing power of globalisation and at the same time not fall into neolocalism and neonationalism, he suggested to look for a third intersection. This alternative should give us the opportunity to go globally into dialogue without loosing our own identity and local culture.
As a metaphor for his thoughts Glissant referred to the differences between the archipelago and the continent. While at the continent ideas about the emergence of culture and tradition are tied up and monolithic, the archipelago offers a much more open and interesting society model. Because each island has its own habits and sometimes-even language, but has at the same time a relationship with the other islands and other historically related overseas countries. That's why personal and collective identities can influence each other in a positive way on these islands, without the fear of loosing one’s own personality.
After acquaintance with the thoughts of Glissant, Beleza Design & Art is even more convinced of the value of our projects for the broader society. Through design and art we want to make people confident enough to open up for the other, and to strive for this fascinating, peaceful intersection.