Schöne Sentimenten

With Schöne Sentimenten, Museum Dhondt-Dhaenens brings the potential of its collection to the fore. In the exhibition, core works from the museum's collection enter into dialogue with works from private collections that the MDD currently manages or would like to manage in the future. Therefore, The whole is not a classical but an imaginary collection presentation. Real works of art are combined with ‘absent’ works to emphasise the displayed collections' importance, capacity and possibilities.

A particular perspective

The core of the exhibition consists of pieces from Museum Dhondt-Dhaenens, Matthys-Colle and Cooreman collections, each of which played an important role in the acceptance of modern and contemporary art in Flanders. Together they virtually span the entire 20th century and, as a whole, provide a particular perspective on different styles, genres and movements, ranging from Flemish Modernism from the museum's own collection to post-war Belgian and American art from the Matthys-Colle collection and contemporary, global art from the Cooreman collection.

Schöne Sentimenten refers to an eponymous edition by artist Jan Vercruysse, which is given a central place in the exhibition. The title implicitly alludes to the beauty, but also the fragility of a museum collection. This suggestive collection presentation, placed in an individual scenography by Maxime Prananto, including the enormous series of posters by Michel François that are hung in and around the MDD, raises questions and provides possible solutions for the future of these collections.