Expo

Art and experience: Discover the Turning Heads exhibition

Step into the captivating world of Turning Heads this autumn. An unconventional exhibition and the first major show since the reopening of the KMSKA, Turning Heads offers a unique perspective on the fascination of old masters with the human face: the tronie.

Table of contents

Turning Heads for all ages

From 20 October 2023 to 21 January 2024, you will be taken on a journey through 76 masterpieces. Featuring works by famous artists such as Rubens, Bruegel, Rembrandt, and Vermeer. Not solemn portraits of rulers and merchants, but striking paintings of ordinary people with extraordinary faces. In these works, called “tronies,” painters experimented with headgear, expression, and light. In this way, they explored the language of the face in a time without emojis.

Turning Heads is an exhibition for everyone. Between the thematic exhibition rooms, there are playful and educational experience rooms—perfect stepping stones to the artworks you will discover further on.

Book tickets

Light, color, and perspective

Come and explore the range of interactive elements in our exhibition. Examine your face from different angles. Experiment with light intensity and color in a light drum, or create your own Turning Head in a photo booth.

Photobooth - Photo: Sanne De Block

Experiment with light and shadow - Photo: Sanne De Block

Human artist or AI artist?

For a new generation of artists, there is a drawing studio where you can create your own interpretation of a study head. Not a born drawer? No problem: visitors, young and old, can become their own (AI) artist by composing their own tronie using a special interface. In this way, you contribute to our very own contemporary tronie collection!

Open Studio

Not had enough of Turning Heads yet? On weekends, between 2 and 4 PM, push your creative boundaries in the Open Studio. We invite you to experiment with different aspects of the human face. Draw faces in an accessible way on our special drawing wall, or let your creativity run free by playing with various facial elements such as hair, eyes, eyebrows, nose, and mouth.

Visit our exhibition and discover the story of the old masters and their fascination with the human face in a playful and educational way. We look forward to welcoming you to the KMSKA!

Photo: Sanne De Block

Practical

Open Studio

For whom? Everyone is warmly welcome. The studio guide is happy to assist with specific needs.
When? Every Saturday and Sunday between 2 and 4 PM.
Location: In the studio spaces of the historic museum.
Price: Included in your museum ticket, no reservation needed.