Portrait of a mighty monument in decline

Brussels' Palace of Justice is one of Europe's most imposing buildings, designed by architect Joseph Poelaert and inaugurated in 1883. This symbol of power and bureaucracy takes centre stage in this show. With its 150 lifts, 1530  inner doors, 2432 rooms, 473 corridors, 1513 windows, permanent staff shortage and, recently also a toilet paper shortage, this monster of a building is a household name in Brussels, especially as few people have actually seen it. Indeed, it has been under scaffolding for more than 40 years for a thorough facade renovation, but the inside is also in lousy condition. The building is so iconic that there are rumours of a portal in the basement that would lead to an underground city.

Sébastien Hendrickx explores how this monumental building not only represents justice, but also reflects the complexity and sometimes oppressive structures of our society. Through a performative portrait, he invites the audience to reflect on the role of justice, power and the human experience within these structures.

Sébastien Hendrickx is a Belgian dramaturge, performance artist and art critic. He has worked as a dramaturge for NTGent, Toneelhuis and KVS, among others, and has written for magazines such as Etcetera and De Witte Raaf. As a teacher, he is attached to the Ghent KASK & Conservatorium. His work is characterised by a profound reflection on social themes, often with a focus on ecological and social issues. His debut performance The Good Life (2021) was an immersive trip around the question of the good life in times of ecological mutation. The narrative theatre production Moddertong (2022-2024) focused on a utopian community of humans and non-humans affected by a heat wave. As an environmental activist, he organised numerous actions for Extinction Rebellion and launched campaigns around democratic renewal in times of environmental catastrophe (hetburgerparlement.be) and the popularization of post-growth policies (morethanenough.be).

With The Palace of Justice, Hendrickx continues this line, inviting audiences to consider the structures that shape our society and the impact they have on our daily lives.