‘The Weight of Oneself’. A statue I photographed on 19 September 2025 in Lyon on the banks of the Saône. A work created by the contemporary artist duo Michael Elmgreen (Danish) and Ingar Dragset (Norwegian). It depicts a naked man standing with another man in his arms, who is lifeless but has the same face as the man carrying him. This visual singularity challenges and questions: it suggests that man is both his own saviour and his own burden, thus posing a profound philosophical reflection on personal responsibility, resilience and autonomy. The artists drew inspiration from the classical codes of heroism and ancient statuary (nudity, marble, idealised bodies) and reinterpreted them from a contemporary perspective, inviting viewers to meditate on the human condition and our relationship with ourselves.

Source: Wikipedia

The surviving remains of the Forges de Clabecq consist mainly of a remarkable metal structure: blast furnace no. 2, dating from 1909, the preservation of which has aroused keen interest from a heritage point of view. Other outbuildings and small masonry elements survive in places, but most of the former steel complex was demolished as part of the redevelopment of the brownfield site. Blast furnace no. 2 is particularly noteworthy, being the last of its kind in Belgium (or indeed in Europe) to have a Staelher-type inclined-plane hoist, giving it a unique character and remarkable historical value.

As for the future of this metal structure, there is a real desire to preserve it as a symbolic witness to the Clabecq steelmaking epic and, more broadly, to Wallonia's industrial heritage. However, blast furnace 2 has long been threatened with demolition as a result of major conversion projects on the site. Heritage associations and local players continue to campaign for its preservation and enhancement, but at the time of the latest available reports, no definitive reuse or museum rehabilitation project had yet been officially decided. The site as a whole is earmarked for extensive urban redevelopment, including the creation of an eco-neighbourhood, and the conservation of certain emblematic remains is still under discussion.

Source: https://patrimoineindustriel.be/fr/publications/actualite/+les-forges-de-clabecq

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The statue of Fonske, whose full name is “Fons Sapientiae” (“fountain of wisdom” in Latin), stands in the centre of Leuven, the renowned Belgian university city. Created by Belgian sculptor Jef Claerhout in 1975 to mark the 550th anniversary of KU Leuven, it depicts a young student holding an open book with a mathematical formula for happiness, while pouring a liquid – symbolically interpreted as water (or even beer) – over his head.

This humorous and original image embodies the dual essence of student life in Leuven: the pursuit of knowledge and the joyful celebration that characterises the local culture. The book symbolises the pursuit of wisdom, while the liquid personifies the absorption of knowledge. Very popular, Fonske is often dressed up at student parties and remains a dynamic symbol of Leuven's identity, embodying the university spirit where learning, conviviality and tradition converge.

Source: World City Trail

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