— Waterloo Forever! | 2010
Koen Theys

In WATERLOO FOREVER!, Koen Theys crafts a fictionalised impression of the Battle of Waterloo, drawing on the annual re-enactment performed by over two thousand participants on the historic battlefield. These enthusiasts strive for historical precision, immersing themselves in heroic battle scenes, outfitted in meticulously recreated costumes and surrounded by horses, cannons, and the thunder of simulated gunfire. Yet, despite their commitment to authenticity, traces of the present inevitably seep in: participants snap selfies, chat on their phones, and smoke modern, industrially manufactured cigarettes, subtly disrupting the illusion.

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As in other works by Theys, WATERLOO FOREVER! is steeped in references to 19th-century "l'art pompier" and grand historical paintings, conveyed through the use of monumental video projections and dynamic, densely layered compositions. The triptych format of the installation recalls Napoleon, Abel Gance’s cinematic epic, invoking a similar blend of spectacle and gravitas. Theys’s approach also situates him within the legacy of Belgian artists like James Ensor and Marcel Broodthaers, who offered their own reinterpretations of the Battle of Waterloo, exploring themes of historical memory, national identity, and the spectacle of war.

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With WATERLOO FOREVER!, Theys interrogates the paradoxes of historical re-enactment, where earnest homage coexists with modern intrusions, creating a layered meditation on the ways we remember and perform history in the contemporary world.