EXPO2000 ::The Brussels World Exposition 1958::

With the ending of the 2nd World War the idea of previous world expositions as unconditional celebrations of technological progress was being widely questioned. The motivation for organising major projects of this type in the age of mass media had to be reconsidered. It was in this light that Brussels - where the first post-world war exposition was to take place in 1958 - tried to move humankind into the centre of interest, at least rhetorically. However, the announcement of this intention alone does not equal an innovative concept, nor does it create new scope for a world exposition. The key theme of "Progress and Humankind" was to take a critical look at scientific advancement from an anthropological view point:

"We wish to draw up a balance of human endeavour in all areas of the modern world: to make people aware clearly and dynamically that they bear a commitment to give this world back its humanity, (...) 'Brussels 1958' wants therefore to draw up a full and complete balance of the modern world, to pick out the positive elements from this balance, to throw light on the major trends apparent amongst man's endeavours, and from the resulting synthesis mark out a new orientation for human activity. And above all we want this coming together to take place in a pleasant and enjoyable atmosphere."

The graphic representation of this concept placed a miniature Brussels City Hall in the centre of an irregular five-pointed star casting light on an adjacent earth.

This shifting of emphasis, the germ of which although by no means new, having already been present in the programme of the 1900 Paris World Exposition , resulted in a one-sided, rose-tinted view of things. Most exhibitors took great pains to avoid any discussion of the negative consequences of technical developments or to present the full spectrum of motives for advancement in the sciences. The upshot was that the exposition only looked at the "peaceful uses of atomic power", ignoring the warning issued in 1957 by the "Göttingen 17" - a group of German scientists - about the military use of atomic weapons in a call which triggered many stormy political debates. Contemporary sources indicate that critical views of this kind were generally neglected in Brussels. The architectural contributions moved into the focus of interest and became the much discussed main attraction of the exposition - which has taken its place in the roll-call of world expositions as the "Fair of the Atomic Age".

Year: 1958	City: Brussels	Country: Belgium
Duration: 17th April - 19 October 1958