Exmar believes that we need art to understand where we come from

‘I personally find art very instructive. Even if you know nothing about it, it moves you emotionally and brings feelings to the surface, which is important to me. Art also transcends time and takes us back to our roots. Look at Flemish artists and the landscapes they have been painting for centuries. These are the landscapes of our youth. If Europe wants to stand out and people want to develop themselves, our history and art play an important role in that. It is important to understand where you come from. Art provides that opportunity.’

‘When I look at the projects we support, they focus on sport, education, and culture. For example, we also sponsor the Ghent hockey club, which has become one of the largest in Belgium for both men and women. This is also connected to our Ghent roots and family ties. We also follow the LAB school project, aware that the brains of our children are the raw material of tomorrow. They will need to find the solutions for the future. As for culture, that’s how we came to KMSKA.’

‘Taking a moment to reflect on where we come from: if we can offer that to our partners and colleagues, that’s wonderful. In our busy lives, overloaded with information, it’s important to do this from time to time, for example through art. The longer you look at a work of art, the more emerges, even in your imagination. People today need these kinds of pauses. Letting your mind rest and finding inspiration through artworks brings good ideas and thoughts to the surface. I’m curious to see how colleagues will interact at an event at KMSKA. It’s a completely different setting. I am a strong supporter of this kind of variation in the contexts in which people communicate: different spaces bring out different thoughts.’

‘Observing and constantly discovering new things, depending on the spirit of the times: that is what art does. People see something different each time. That out-of-the-box thinking and creativity also characterize EXMAR. Every time we build a new ship, we ask ourselves whether it is the ship of the future. We re-evaluate each ship in a new way every time. EXMAR is a family company, proud of its roots and always striving for innovation. Our respect for our history, combined with our ability to adapt to the needs of our clients and partners, are the keys to our success.’

‘Our partnership has already borne fruit: during my visit to KMSKA for the signing of the partnership, I was full of admiration and realized that I don’t go to museums nearly enough. In any case, we have many international colleagues, and we will be delighted to show them Belgian art. Putting art on the community’s agenda, that, I think, is a wonderful goal.’

‘For me, nature paintings and landscapes have always been inspiring. Through the eyes of different artists and movements, you can see the dynamics of a particular time. That’s why I also find it fantastic to bring together paintings from different periods, just as KMSKA has combined modern and classical architecture. Observing landscapes helps us better appreciate our own surroundings, through the beauty that artists capture in them. They teach us to look at our environment with fresh eyes. We need landscapes to broaden our perspective. And, as I said, to find a moment of calm: to sit down and do nothing. Boredom allows the mind to rest.’