While the extension of the Tihange and Doel power plants has drawn little reaction, Danielle Leenaerts’ research project uses art to reignite the discussion in a novel way. This project is unique in that it explores representations of civil and military nuclear energy across various media that engage in dialogue with one another, namely: a photo exhibition at the Delta, a book, and a study day. Her work brings together the perspectives of artists with diverse viewpoints and rejects the polarization of the debate. The goal is rather to encourage society to face a reality it strives to conceal. This approach demonstrates that culture and research are essential tools for addressing today’s geopolitical and environmental challenges. Interview.

This project runs parallel to my teaching of contemporary art history. As part of this, I received an FNRS–PDR research grant, which provided a broader foundation for the project. This allowed me to structure it in three parts: an exhibition, a book, and a study day.  

I am interested in nuclear energy because this theme encapsulates the core political, geopolitical, and human issues of the past 75 years. On the one hand, with the invention of the atomic bomb, regarding military nuclear power, and on the other hand, with the exponential growth in the use of civil nuclear power for energy production. According to the philosopher Günther Anders, we have in fact entered the “atomic age” with the constant risk of “globocide”—that is, the possibility of destroying all life on the Earth’s surface. And we are fully aware of this reality when it comes to military nuclear power. But humans are also in denial about the risks inherent in the use of civil nuclear power, as the Fukushima disaster recently demonstrated. This is a true cognitive dissonance because we know the risks and the duration of the potential fallout, yet we do not react. Worse still, our energy consumption is skyrocketing, as civil nuclear power is presented as the primary solution to decarbonization. A solution that sidesteps the issues of risk and the management of nuclear waste, whose half-life spans several centuries or tens of millennia. These absolutely essential questions must be discussed by civil society but are not. This is also what I aim to achieve with this research project: to enable a public debate on the issue of nuclear power, because it concerns us all and will have an impact on our future. 

Photography was already the subject of my dissertation, so this issue has been on my mind for a long time. It is my primary area of focus in both teaching and research. Indeed, photography has long been conspicuously absent from art history research, which has traditionally focused primarily on the fine arts in the broadest sense. For me, it was also important to introduce this type of representation into the academic field, particularly in the history of contemporary art. Along the way, I became aware of a whole series of works dealing with nuclear energy, and I saw them as an attempt to bring these issues to light. These artists’ works allow us to engage with questions that are not addressed in the media or are addressed in a simplified, even polarizing manner. 

I also wanted to avoid anything fictional regarding the nuclear issue. Photography serves as documentary evidence, yet at the same time, it offers a representation that speaks to the world through an aesthetic medium that invites us to pause and reflect. Photography is an art form that allows us to associate images with concepts and to humanize the nuclear issue. 

Currently, the government has decided not to phase out nuclear power and has extended the operating life of the Tihange and Doel plants. I am very surprised by the lack of reaction from civil society on this issue. Decarbonization is, of course, necessary, but nuclear power is not the only solution. Moreover, it is a solution that poses numerous risks and is highly polluting. We’re talking about radioactive waste that will remain radioactive for thousands of years. This projects us into time frames that are unimaginable. It is one of the major challenges in how the public will receive the exhibition. I hope this exhibition will help identify the issues and risks while there is still time to change things. I am therefore very curious to see how the public will react and am very grateful to the Delta for hosting the exhibition project. The Delta and Confluent des Savoirs have also worked to make the information accessible to the general public in order to communicate our knowledge about nuclear power more effectively. This information provides a framework for the exhibition, but the interpretation of the works remains entirely up to the public. Everyone is free to interpret them as they wish. In any case, I hope this exhibition will prompt the public to ask questions and spark a debate.

Starting with the Belgian context and an artist, Cécile Massart, who for 30 years has dedicated herself to the issue of civil nuclear power and waste management—and more specifically to raising awareness of storage sites. Cécile Massart has created markers for underground storage sites. Her pioneering work raised my awareness of nuclear issues. I also came across the work of a young photographer who focused on Tihange for his graduation project. A Belgian focus therefore made sense. Then, my interest in nuclear accidents led me to other photographers, such as Anaïs Tondeur. Finally, I became interested in military nuclear power, and other photographers came to the forefront. Ultimately, the ten selected photographers offer a diverse representation of the nuclear chain (waste, material processing, decommissioning, activist occupation, etc.) and both civilian and military issues. 

The book, *(Faire) face au nucléaire*, which will be released in late March, and the exhibition are two separate mediums. The book is not a catalog of the exhibition. It features most of the artists but not necessarily the works on display. The book allows for a deeper analysis and contextualizes the understanding of nuclear power in relation to the artworks. It also explores the aesthetics of the works in greater depth. The data presented in the book is also more detailed and precise than that featured in the exhibition. The book outlines the results of in-depth research. But I want to clarify that the book’s focus is art history, not physics. It does, however, help readers grasp the general context, key elements, and major issues surrounding nuclear energy. 

The book also helps readers understand the artists’ positions on the nuclear issue. Some are anti-nuclear, while others take a more nuanced stance. The book thus presents a full spectrum of viewpoints on the issue. I hope it will also foster public debate and move beyond the polarized “for” or “against” positions on nuclear power. The book aims to reintroduce factual information into the debate, rather than opinions, and to refocus attention on the question of life. It seeks to offer knowledge and nuance. 

I am more convinced than ever that this is a healthy space for expression. These works give concrete form to the abstract. Photography is a powerful artistic medium that has fostered an interest in these issues. Art allows for an unprecedented space of freedom. But the scope of artistic expression still needs to be defended. My research is also significant from this perspective. It shows that artistic expression is possible even when culture faces budget cuts. 

I’m not sure yet. Bringing this project to fruition was a major challenge. I’ll continue to support the project and share it through other formats and channels (lectures, videos, etc.) to keep it alive. In the near future, I hope to continue exploring contemporary art in French-speaking Belgium and to keep engaging with social issues.

Throughout the day, the symposium explored how narratives, medical figures, and the experience of illness feed into literary writing, as well as medical thought and practice. Several presentations showed how medicine can be viewed as a deeply narrative discipline, in which listening, interpretation, and transmission play a central role. Literature, for its part, has taken up themes such as illness, addiction, suffering, and care, offering sensitive and critical perspectives on the human experience of vulnerability. 

The dialogue between disciplines has proved particularly fruitful. On the one hand, doctors have become great writers; on the other, writing and reading are at the heart of advances in medical science and can also have therapeutic power in themselves.

The disciplines of literature and medicine, represented in particular by Simon Absil, Yves Poumay, Elisabeth Leijnse, Emma-Louise Silva, and Anne Roekens, have demonstrated how much they gain from being combined, both in research and in the training of future health professionals.

The day ended with a visit to the anatomy laboratory, followed by a virtual presentation of the BUMP's precious works related to medicine.

I am studying speech therapy in the liberal arts faculty (here, philosophy and literature) at the University of Louisiana.

There, I learned that the cities of Lafayette and Namur were twinned. This connection played a decisive role in my decision to go on exchange, as it made organizing the trip much easier. Thanks to CODOFIL (Council for the Development of French in Louisiana), I was able to obtain a scholarship, without which I probably would never have been able to come and study in Namur.

After an 11-hour flight, I arrived in Belgium at the end of January, where I will stay until the end of June to take my exams.

I find the teachers and students very kind. They are also understanding of my situation and the fact that French is not my mother tongue. They are there for me if I need them, to help me, speak more slowly, or answer my questions. I feel that they want to make my experience as pleasant as possible.

However, I still have difficulty understanding French, which is why I chose to take courses in which I already have in-depth knowledge, such as general linguistics, for example. 

The classes are quite different from those in the United States. There, they take place several times a week according to a fixed schedule. Here, they are often grouped into a single session and the schedule can change from week to week. It was a little surprising at first, but you get used to it quickly.

First, the city is accessible to pedestrians. In the US, it's very difficult to get around without a car, and public transportation needs to be improved. Here, public transportation is available in all cities, even in the most rural areas, like where I come from.

I was also surprised that stores are not open all night. In Louisiana, and even throughout the US, stores are open 24 hours a day. This is strange to me, as is the fact that there are no stores where you can find absolutely everything. Where I live, there is a chain of hypermarkets offering a huge range of products at reduced prices. In these stores, you can find clothes, food, and more, all within a few aisles.

However, there are also similarities between Louisiana and Belgium. For example, French culture remains strong in Louisiana, a bit like Walloon culture here in southern Belgium.

As a speech therapy student, I need to obtain a master's degree. The problem is that getting into a university that offers this program in the United States is not easy because it is a very competitive field. In addition to developing my language skills, I think this exchange will allow me to stand out from other students. Currently, I speak English, French, and a little Spanish and Portuguese. I hope that these skills will give me a real advantage in getting accepted into this school.

I would love to travel a lot. So far, I have visited Dinant and Brussels, but I would like to discover many other European destinations. 

When I talk to my friends or roommates, I often tell them that I would like to go to Portugal. They always reply that it's far away, but for me it's not—on the contrary, it's right next door. In Louisiana, it takes me 40 minutes just to get to the University of Lafayette. Here, after a 40-minute drive, I'm almost in Brussels! Europeans don't have the same concept of distance as Americans.

I'm looking forward to discovering lots of other things in Namur, Belgium, and all over Europe.

Yes, and I sincerely hope that my experience will inspire other students to try the same adventure in the years to come, including those who are not learning French as part of their studies.

An exchange of this kind is always interesting, whether in Namur, other French-speaking countries in Europe, or even Quebec. 

Photo credits: NEW ASBL.

International Women's Day (UN), also known as "International Day of Struggle for Women's Rights" (UN Women), is celebrated every year on March 8. This day highlights the struggles for women's rights and, more broadly, for the elimination of inequalities between women and men.  

Although International Women's Day was made official by the United Nations in 1977, following on from the International Women's Year proclaimed in 1975 by the UN General Assembly, its origins date back to the social movements that emerged in North America and Europe at the turn of the 20th century. 

The fight against gender discrimination is a priority at UNamur, which is firmly committed to promoting gender equality, non-discrimination, and respect for diversity.  

UNamur's goal is to create an inclusive university community where everyone can thrive, regardless of gender. By embracing diversity and taking concrete measures, the university affirms its commitment to a more equitable society based on the values of justice, inclusion, and respect for human dignity.