Tintin finally arrives at Made In Belgium

15 March 2005

BRUSSELS – Tintin fans had reason to celebrate on Tuesday when it was announced the character would finally get a place in the biggest ever exhibition on Belgium.

The curators of the Made In Belgium exhibition had intended to devote an entire section to Belgium’s most famous comic creation, but had to change their plans when the Fondation Herge – which owns the Tintin legal rights – refused permission.

After a public outcry about the omission, with just a week to go, the exhibition’s organiser Collections et Patrimoine said they would reveal a Tintin display on Wednesday.

It is understood that work owned by curator Rene Schyns, including portraits of Herge, will be shown somewhere at the Dexia Art Center in Rue de l’Ecuyer, though Herge won’t be given an entire section as originally planned.

Moulinsart, the company behind the Fondation Herge, has still not granted its permission, which means a legal case could follow.

Last week, the nephew and godson of Herge, Georges Remi, accused the Englishman Nick Rodwell, Herge’s step-son, of insulting Tintin fans and the memory of his famous, namesake uncle.

He called on his step-aunt Fanny to grant permission for work to be shown.

“He wants to turn Tintin into a Disney-style empire,” Remi said about Rodwell.

Subject: Belgian news