Every Sunday, Belga English picks its favourite events from the cultural agenda. This week: An exploration of female artists from the Low Countries, vibrant new musical talent at KMSKA’s late Thursday evenings and a ceramicist who infuses mischief into his pottery.
Unforgettable Female Artists from Antwerp to Amsterdam, 1600-1750, 7 March until 31 May, MSK, Ghent
This exhibition reshapes the understanding of art history by bringing into focus the remarkable but long-overlooked contributions of women artists in the Low Countries between 1600 and 1750. This landmark exhibition presents an impressive array of works, from intimate still lifes and expressive portraits to intricate textile pieces and paper cuttings, that are all made by more than 40 women whose creativity helped define the visual culture of their time.
Far from being rare exceptions, these artists were active across disciplines and across regions from Antwerp to Amsterdam. Figures such as Judith Leyster, Rachel Ruysch and Maria Sybilla Merian emerge alongside lesser-known names, offering a richer and more nuanced picture of early modern artistic life. Themes of identity, ambition and community run through the show, inviting visitors to reconsider why these voices faded from mainstream narratives despite their acclaim in their own era.
Responding to this historical rediscovery, nine contemporary artists have created a compelling installation within the exhibition that makes the absence of women in art history tangible. Hundreds of names printed on latex sheets, hang in the forum space, emphasising both presence and erasure in the cultural record.
In connection with Onvergetelijk, the MSK also hosts Bellies on International Women’s Day, a participatory art initiative by Lieze De Middeleir that collects and celebrates the diverse forms of women’s bodies. Together, these projects highlight not only historical achievements but also contemporary conversations about representation, identity and collective memory in art.
Klara’s De Twintigers, until 15 May, KMSKA, Antwerp
Klara’s De Twintigers shines a spotlight on a vibrant new generation of Belgian musical talent, giving ten exceptional young artists the chance to share their voices and artistic visions with a wide audience. Spanning jazz, classical and contemporary music, the programme highlights musicians who are already making their mark, each with a distinctive style and creative drive.
Among them is Adinda Hertmans, a Brussels-based jazz singer and composer whose warm yet assured voice and original songwriting blend lyrical sensitivity with bold improvisation. Harpist Stef Van Vynckt takes a very different path, specialising in contemporary repertoire and pushing the boundaries of his instrument; more than 50 new works have already been written for him, testament to his adventurous musical spirit. Jazz drummer Moene Peeters brings explosive rhythm and restless energy to the stage, while pianist Jef Kolacny combines technical virtuosity with expressive depth, moving effortlessly between Romantic works and contemporary collaborations.
This musical momentum flows directly into KMSKA laat: De Twintigers van Klara, part of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp’s lively late-evening programme. Here, live performances unfold among the museum’s masterpieces, creating a dialogue between sound and image. As the young musicians respond to paintings and sculptures across centuries, the galleries become spaces of encounter and exchange.
March 6: Stef Van Vynckt (harp, contemporary classical)
March 13: Moene Peeters (drums, jazz)
March 20: Jef Kolacny (piano, classical)
March 27: Thibaut De Bondt (baritone, classical
April 3: Luna De Mol (violin, classical)
April 24: Sabra Bahri Khatri (vocals, classical)
May 1: Nele Vernaillen (flute, jazz)
May 8: Elly Brouckmans (saxophone, jazz)
May 15: Stan Geudens (lute, early music)
Olé Désiré!, 6 March until 20 September, Museums Erasmus House & Beguinage, Brussels
Olé Désiré! invites visitors into the delightfully unconventional world of Belgian artist Yves Malfliet, whose playful and anarchic approach to ceramic art challenges tradition at every turn. Rather than following the rules of craft and technical precision, Malfliet delights in upending them through bending materials, references and expectations into whimsical, satirical forms that surprise as much as they amuse.
What makes this exhibition especially compelling is the contrast between Malfliet’s irreverent creations and the historic, Renaissance setting of the Erasmushuis, a former sanctuary of theological inquiry and humanist thought. His works interact with the museum’s interiors and collections in unexpected ways, creating a dialogue between past and present that is as humorous as it is thought-provoking.
Drawing on everyday objects, ranging from vintage crockery to second-hand curios, Malfliet reconfigures familiar fragments into lively sculptures and installations. There is a mischievous spirit in his work, but also intelligence: layers of irony, cultural reference and symbolic wit invite closer looking and interpretation.
(MOH)
#FlandersNewsService | Nele Vernaillen performs at Klara © PHOTO KLARA DIGITAAL
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