The museum Het Kunstuur in Mechelen is celebrating its fifth anniversary with a unique anniversary exhibition, featuring the best and most notable works from the first four editions.
Over the past five years, 270,000 people have visited Het Kunstuur in Mechelen. Additionally, exhibitions in Roeselare and Hasselt have collectively welcomed another 60,000 visitors.
Het Kunstuur showcases a unique mix of Belgian art from the period 1850-1950. Each piece is introduced by a (often well-known) Flemish person who shares a unique story tied to the artwork, often involving family history or a special connection to the painting’s theme.
“In Mechelen, we are now on our eighth exhibition in five years,” said Joost Bourlon, who organises Het Kunstuur with his brother Hans. “We’ve noticed that many visitors to the latest editions haven’t seen the earlier ones, so we decided to create an anniversary edition featuring remarkable works from the first four editions.”
A collaborator, Joost Bourlon, mayor Bart Somers and Hans Bourlon pictured at the 'Het Kunstuur 5' exhibition with work of Belgian painters from 1850-1950, at Het Kunstuur museum, at the Heilige Geestkapel in Mechelen, Friday 14 February 2025. Credit: Belga
Exhibitions are also held in Roeselare and Hasselt, often featuring works previously shown in Mechelen. Despite this, the organisation has no plans to expand to more cities.
"There are certainly 25 cities interested in doing the same, but this is a full-time hobby for Hans and me,” added Joost Bourlon. "We will focus on maintaining our current exhibitions."
In the past five years, 210 paintings by 61 artists have been displayed, alongside 198 stories told by 94 narrators. Bourlon cherishes many of the stories, but two particularly stand out to him.
"In 2019, Arno, already very ill, came to speak about Ensor. I had known him since my youth, and his story will always stay with me, as will the tale of the stolen Ensor that was found by a Flemish family in the dunes of Mariakerke."
For more information, visit Het Kunstuur's website.
