BXL Fair by patrick mertens

About "BXL Fair"

by patrick mertens

About the artwork

This black-and-white photograph shows an urban landscape dominated by a tall attraction in the centre, a freefall tower, rising above the surrounding buildings.

The attraction is a slender, tall tower with an ornate spire at the top. Halfway up the tower, arms hang from which swings or seats are attached, and some of them appear to be filled, suggesting that the attraction is in operation or ready for use. The tower has a complex latticework pattern, emphasising its height and construction.

In the background, to the left of the tower, a large church or cathedral can be seen with a prominent dome and towers, typical of religious architecture in a European city. Further to the left, another smaller spire can be seen.

In the foreground and around the central attraction and the church, the roofs and upper floors of several urban buildings are visible. These range from older, traditional buildings to more modern apartment blocks rising further into the distance. The sky is uniformly grey and cloudy, creating a soft, diffuse lighting and contributing to the monochrome aesthetic of the photo.

The overall composition emphasises the scale and diversity of the urban environment, with the fairground ride as a striking and dynamic element amidst the static architecture. The black-and-white rendition emphasises the shapes, textures and contrast of the structures. Given the name and the church architecture, it is likely that this is a scene in Brussels, perhaps at a fairground.