What is valuable must be protected. That is the logic of the Flemish Masterpieces Decree. Since the creation of this decree in 2003, just about 1,000 objects and collections have been recognised and protected as masterpieces. Through decree, the government also strengthens public collections by acquiring important masterpieces.
The exhibition '100 x Congo' focuses on one hundred unique Congolese works.What are the stories behind the Congolese objects? And how did they end up here? What was their significance to various Congolese peoples? And where lies the future of the collection?
The Saulus tableau depicts a Biblical scene: on his way from Jerusalem to Damascus, the Roman Saul, persecuting Christians, is blinded by a lightning bolt and thrown from his horse. This tile tableau of over 1 by 2 metres has 98 tiles in majolica, colourful and glazed earthenware.
The XIIth North Sea History Conference in 2017 seeks to involve maritime museum professionals and academic scholars, to generate knowledge and present new findings about the maritime culture of the North Sea region.
In the multimedia project 'In many hands' twenty-five people shine their light on the Congolese collection of the city of Antwerp. They speak about an object of choice from the one hundred highlights in the exhibition.
Mention of heritage in Antwerp immediately puts us in mind of the cathedral or a painting by Rubens. But the Reuzenstoet (Giants’ Parade) or an ancient tree are also part of our heritage, and the same is true of everything we have built up over the centuries in our society.
A guide takes you on a tour and shows you some historical masterpieces. You'll learn that contemporary icons and the Japanese pop culture come from a long tradition.
