New work of art enhances Sint-Katelijneplein

The sculpture by the Belgian artist ‘t Jolle has been gathering dust in the depot of the city of Brussels for some time, but now has a place on the renovated Sint-Katelijneplein.

According to the Brussels city council, the playful-looking work contains a social message. “By humorously reusing the character of Scrooge McDuck, the Belgian artist proclaims the end of unbridled capitalism and advocates a fairer, more social society,” it said.

Sarkozy

Scrooge McDuck is meant to symbolize greed on a beam covered in tar and feathers, a punishment used in the Middle Ages and the Wild West as a sign of public humiliation and banishment from society. The title of the work of art also contains a social dimension in a certain sense. After all, ‘t Jolle winks at the exclamation “Casse-toi, pauv’ con” (“Out of the way, poor fool”, ed.) of former French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

“Due to its popular iconography, one might think that the artwork is only intended to be humorous, but it raises important reflections by addressing a theme that concerns everyone: the negative consequences of capitalism and our consumer society,” says Maes. “But it is not our fate. The artwork is a paean to considering a fairer, more social society by announcing the end of capitalism.”

Art Brussels

It is also no coincidence that the artwork will be unveiled this weekend. The sculpture is part of the Art Brussels art fair, which takes place until tomorrow. In 2011, the city of Brussels acquired this work as part of the ‘Art in the City’ project by Art Brussels.