KMSKA, built for beauty
Starting October 22, you can visit KMSKA, built for beauty at DE SINGEL. This exhibition, organized by the Flemish Architecture Institute (VAi), offers a behind-the-scenes look at the construction of the museum. You’ll discover how the 19th-century building came into being and how the architects of the time developed their designs. Unique objects, photographs, archival materials, and several Flemish masterpieces take you back to the 1884 design. Some works from the KMSKA collection also see the light of day again for this exhibition.
Built for beauty
The KMSKA played an important role in the urban development of Antwerp’s new southern district. The museum marked the 19th-century expansion and modernization of the city, with its characteristic wide avenues, parks, and green spaces. The KMSKA is part of a series of notable public buildings, such as the National Bank, the Courthouse, and the Central Station. Each of these buildings was carefully planned and has a defining presence in the cityscape. This kind of urban evolution also took place in many European cities, including Berlin, Vienna, and Amsterdam. The exhibition places the KMSKA within this historical and international perspective.
Winders Competition Design 1877 - KMSKA Archives
Inauguration Poster 1890 - KMSKA Archives
KMSKA Works at DE SINGEL
In addition to masterpieces from the VAi collection, you can also admire archival pieces from the KMSKA. For this exhibition, several sculptures from the KMSKA collection were temporarily moved to DE SINGEL. In the 19th-century museum building, sculpture was closely integrated with architecture, featuring a rich variety of decorations, reliefs, busts, façade sculptures, and freestanding statues. Many of these works still adorn the building’s façades and interiors today. The artists involved included Thomas Vinçotte, Joseph Ducaju, Robert Fabri, and Josuë Dupon. Some of their sculptures are stored in the museum’s collection as of 2024. In KMSKA, built for beauty, you can admire some of these “hidden works.” A striking example is the plaster bust of Michelangelo by Josuë Dupon, which features a nail in the forehead. This was used as a guide to accurately reproduce the sculpture at a larger scale. Also on display are colorful drawings by architects Eduard Van Steenbergen and Frans Van Dijk, showing studies and competition designs for museum buildings.
Practical
- The exhibition runs from October 22, 2024, to January 19, 2025, at the Flemish Architecture Institute (VAi) in DE SINGEL
- For more information and tickets, visit vai.be or desingel.be
- Admission: €5
- Opening lecture on October 22, 2024, at 8:00 PM at DE SINGEL
- Want to learn more? Alongside the exhibition, the VAi has created a heritage walk with fun facts in the Erfgoedapp. It guides you through the architecture and rich history of the KMSKA and the Het Zuid district.
