What began in 1971 with the very first fair trade shop in a dilapidated house in Antwerp has become Belgium's leading fair trade pioneer . Over the past half century, Oxfam (OWW) has demonstrated its social commitment by introducing the fair trade concept in Flanders, as well as through collaborative initiatives such as anti-apartheid campaigns and anti-missile demonstrations. "Making all trade fair and thus rendering our organization obsolete remains the goal," says Eva Smets, director of Oxfam Belgium.
The exhibition offers a unique glimpse into OWW's 50-year history. Through visuals, it highlights OWW's ambitions, campaigns, and operations. Work by photographer Lieve Blancquaert and graphic artist Gerard Alsteens (GAL) . Do you remember politician Jean-Luc Dehaene naked in a wine barrel or Clara Cleymans disguised as Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring? Or the controversial cartoons promoting fair trade? Each left its own distinctive mark on OWW's campaigns.
Amsab-ISG collects and manages a wide range of materials from social movements and initiatives related to North-South issues. In 1993, we acquired the archives of the national secretariat of OWW. Other transfers followed, including those from individual world shops. This exhibition offers a fascinating glimpse into the OWW's rich image collection.
Discover the visual material about Oxfam World Shops at Amsab-ISG: click here .
This exhibition was curated by Nellle Vanlangendonck, designer of Oxfam World Shops, in collaboration with Amsab-ISG. With the support of the Flemish Community and OWW.
