Art of Remembrance: Reimagine the WWII Legacy Through Contemporary Art
The Art of Remembrance project REIMAGINES WWII REMEMBRANCE BY BLENDING HISTORY WITH CONTEMPORARY ART. THROUGH ARTIST RESIDENCIES, TRAVELING EXHIBITIONS, AND EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES, THE PROJECT CONNECTS AUDIENCES WITH THE PROFOUND STORIES OF WWII IN NEW AND ENGAGING WAYS. This ambitious initiative IS developed in collaboration with Tempora, the lre foundation, the City of Bastogne , La Coupole Museum , the Nuto Revelli Foundation , and the Sybir Memorial Museum.
At the heart of the Art of Remembrance project is the belief that art has the power to bridge generations and inspire new ways of thinking about history. By engaging with the narratives of World War II, artists contribute to a collective effort to preserve and reinterpret the legacy of one of the most defining periods in human history.
Four historically significant WWII remembrance sites in Europe host the residencies, each offering a distinct perspective on the war’s impact. These sites, steeped in history and memory, provide artists with access to archives, artifacts, and local communities. The resulting works will form part of a traveling exhibition, connecting audiences across Europe with the themes of memory, resilience, and reflection.
The project is supported by an international partnership of cultural and historical organizations and co-funded by the European Union’s Creative Europe Programme. Together, the partners aim to foster dialogue between past and present, art and history, and people across borders.
THE artist, raphaël dallaporta
The artist-in-residence at the Bastogne War Museum starting on August 19, 2025, is Raphaël Dallaporta. He is a Paris-based artist whose photographic and installation work explores the intersection of technology, landscape, and memory. His practice often involves collaborations with scientists, historians, and archaeologists to uncover hidden or inaccessible narratives — from landmines to prehistoric caves. A former resident of the Villa Medici (French Academy in Rome), Dallaporta has exhibited internationally, and his works are held in major public collections, including the Centre Pompidou and the Maison Européenne de la Photographie.
3 Days Of workshops for 1 commemoration
Historical context:
On September 8, 1944, at 11:00 AM, from the Bois du Beuleu site, the German army launched the first operational V-2 rocket. The target designated by the Wehrmacht, under the code 0303, was Paris. This 14-meter-long rocket reached supersonic speed, covering the 320 kilometers separating it from its target in 4 minutes and 39 seconds.
At 11:05 AM, the rocket exploded between Rue des Sapins and Rue des Ormes in Maisons-Alfort.
The six victims of the impact were:
- a 4-month-old girl
- an 8-year-old boy
- a 24-year-old woman
- a 34-year-old man
- a 48-year-old woman
- a 73-year-old woman
This launch marked the beginning of the space age.
A collective commemoration on September 8, 2025:
To honor the memory of the victims and to recall the historical and human significance of this event, a commemorative ceremony will take place.
- Date: Monday, September 8, 2025
- Time: 11:00 AM
- Location: Bois du Beuleu, on the road from Gouvy to Sterpigny, Belgium.
This commemoration aims to bring together all those who wish to participate in a collective act of remembrance.
A workshop to prepare for the commemoration:
A collaborative preparatory workshop will be offered in advance to actively involve participants in shaping this commemorative moment.
- Dates: From Friday, August 22 to Sunday, August 24, 2025
- Location: Bastogne War Museum
Artistic guidance:
The workshop is led by Raphaël Dallaporta, artist-in-residence at the Bastogne War Museum, as part of the "Art of Remembrance" program conducted by Liberation Route Europe.
The workshop will focus on memory, archives, landscape, and transmission.
With participation by musician Jean-Daniel Aubry.
Target Audience:
The workshop is open to everyone, regardless of age or artistic skill level:
• Amateur and professional artists
• Researchers, teachers, students, pupils
• Citizens from neighboring or more distant communities
• Anyone interested in issues of memory, history, and transmission.
Project objectives:
• To pay tribute to the civilian victims of September 8, 1944
• To promote a sensitive, artistic, and civic approach to history
• To encourage local and intergenerational participation
• To embed the commemoration within a shared European memory dynamic