Kolmont sees art and culture as the ideal way to bring people together and inspire them

Property developer Kolmont has a passion for architecture, art, and creativity with a twist, along with a drive for excellence. All of these are reflected in KMSKA, says General Manager Tom Deckers.

Why do you consider it important to engage in this kind of partnership?

Tom Deckers: “We are a family-owned real estate company. A hallmark of our projects is that they outlast the people who design or build them. Long-term and intergenerational thinking, as well as care for the surroundings and the people who live there, are therefore in our DNA. When you develop entire neighborhoods, you have a significant impact on the living environment of others. It is only natural, then, to give something back. We have no other partnerships like the one with KMSKA. However, we do make buildings that are still in the permitting phase available for community activities, such as the old courthouse in Hasselt. In Berchem, we donated the kitchens of a building to areas affected by flooding in Wallonia. In Antwerp, we allow a company that hosts start-ups to use one of our buildings free of charge. In addition, we sponsor a number of local sports clubs. Engagement and attention to society are important to us; we never act solely for the numbers or for PR.”

What is your company most looking forward to?

“We are still considering how we will structure it. If I may dream a little, we would certainly hold a brainstorming session here with our designers and architects for one of our new major projects, combined with a tour led by one of the KMSKA specialists, an aperitif, and a dinner. The setting and all the masterpieces here will undoubtedly provide tons of inspiration. Beyond that, we want to host and treat our important contacts here. Art and culture are the ideal way to bring people together and inspire them. I am hoping for three years full of stimulating experiences and fantastic journeys of discovery.”

Why did you choose KMSKA?

“Five years ago, we evolved from a Limburg-based company to a Belgian player. We have also established a presence in Antwerp, and our owner Bart Tans is a great lover of art, aesthetics and heritage. Our partnership with KMSKA is a natural choice: it holds one of the most extensive art collections in the country and is the largest and most important museum in Flanders. Our company credo is also ‘Best in class’, we strive for the very best. We see that reflected in KMSKA. The reconciliation of the classical and the brand-new, and of much more, is outstanding and remarkable. Architecturally it is a gem. Here and there I also noticed a playful fuck you wink, there can be a twist. It reminded me of how we shape our projects with our architects. A natural match and a dream collaboration.”

What is your favourite work from the collection?

“I was very impressed by the colors and the dynamism in the work of the Antwerp futurist Jules Schmalzigaug. He died at only 35, but I heard that he produced 1,100 paintings and that KMSKA owns 52 of his works. Curator Adriaan Gonnissen explained that his 'Development of a Theme in Red: Carnival' from 1914 was the first Belgian abstract painting. Next to it hung a work by Rik Wouters, and you could clearly see the parallels between the two, as if one had painted the other, but in his own style. A true aha-erlebnis.”