Collected with Vision. Private Collections in Dialogue with the Old Masters

The KMSKA cherishes its collection of old masters, which we mainly display in our nineteenth-century halls. Now and again, a contemporary work of art provides a topical commentary on rigid portraits and traditional mother figures. 

With Collected with Vision the KMSKA joins forces with Geukens & De Vil Projects for an exhibition in which we interweave post-war and contemporary art with the existing museum collection. The themed rooms and works of the old masters will be given a contemporary injection with works by internationally renowned and established artists, drawn from Belgian private collections, updating the KMSKA collection.  

Collected with Vision highlights the importance of collecting and questions the role of museums and private collectors. Belgium has a rich history of art collecting. Collecting is in the Belgian's DNA, so to speak. Moreover, the KMSKA's collection has also grown into what it is today through several important donations and bequests. Visitors are now offered the unique opportunity to discover works of art from the hidden treasure troves of Belgian private collectors. These include works by Cindy Sherman, Olafur Eliasson, David Claerbout, Francis Alys, Christian Boltanksi, Tracey Emin, Marlene Dumas, Luc Tuymans and Louise Bourgeois, among others.

The carefully curated selection creates a fascinating dialogue between old and new, highlighting universal themes in surprising ways. Will a harmonious dialogue with 700 years of art history emerge, or will the works provoke through their challenging contrasts?