BGL

BGL may refer to:

BGL BNP Paribas

BGL BNP Paribas (formerly Banque Générale du Luxembourg or BGL) is a Luxembourg bank founded on 29 September 1919. Since May 2009, the bank has been a member of the BNP Paribas group. It is one of the largest banks in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and is the country's second-largest employer.

BGL BNP Paribas was ranked as the top bank in Luxembourg based on tier 1 capital by The Banker magazine in a 2014 ranking.

History

The Banque Générale du Luxembourg (BGL) was founded on 29 September 1919 by Société Générale de Belgique together with Luxembourg and Belgian partners. Its registered office was in Arlon, Belgium, and its head office in Luxembourg City. It quickly moved into to new premises at 14, rue Aldringen. By 1928, it had become a large regional bank extending its operations to the neighbouring areas of Belgium and France. In 1935, its registered office was moved to Luxembourg where BGL became a Luxembourg corporation. In the 1960s, BGL became a key player in international financial services with cross-border transactions accounting for an increasing share of its operations. In the late 1970s, it entered the Eurobond market, opening offices in Milan, Hong Kong and Frankfurt and establishing Banque Générale du Luxembourg (Suisse) in Zurich in 1982. On 29 November 1984, BGL shares were first traded on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange.

BGL (artists)

BGL is an artist collective composed of Jasmin Bilodeau (born: 1973), Sébastien Giguère (born: 1972), Nicolas Laverdière (born: 1972) originally from Quebec city. The trio was formed some 13 years ago while the three artists were still studying at Université de Laval in Québec City. The collective is represented by Parisian Laundry in Montreal and Diaz Contemporary in Toronto.

Work

BGL is known for their self-referential and in situ installations. Their art is in direct dialogue with contemporary culture. BGL's projects vacillate between the boundaries of destruction and excess. The trio subtly challenges political notions through absurdist installations and performances. The trio produces art that engages in social criticism and in that way is reminiscent of the collective General Idea (1969–1994). BGL seeks, through its work, to challenge the boundaries between art and life. The artistic trio focuses on the realization of a body of works that preoccupies itself with social and humanitarian concerns and that suggests a critique of the society in which they take part. Their works are not the representation of reality but rather are created with the goal of inviting the viewer to be conscious of his/her environment. BGL is concerned with the values encouraged by consumerism, as well as the fictional reality created by media, television and cinematography which imposes on the viewer something already fabricated and which creates a hegemony that puts the viewer asleep.