The Royal Academy for Fine Arts existed 350 years in 2013. At the same time, the renowned Fashion Department turned 50. That is why the whole of Antwerp was dominated by the Academy and the clash between contemporary artistic "violence" and historical heritage.
Students will discover the traces that the world has left in Antwerp and the traces that Antwerp has left in the rest of the world, thanks to the port.
The MAS' largest and most impressive collection pieces can be seen on the Scheldt quays. And just in front of the MAS, you almost bump into the showpiece of our collection.
Photographer Mark De Fraeye and his wife donated some of their photo series to the MAS. De Fraeye's series 'Ahopsan Forest' is a visual manifesto for the preservation of the forest in South Korea.
Thanks to intensive restoration, a large float was prepared for the exhibition 'Listen. Stories found in the city'. You can read about how the restoration of this piece was carried out and what choices were made here.
Since 2012, the Mestizo Arts Platform (MAP) collective has been maintaining and renewing the Altar of Antwerp: a participatory installation that invites us to reflect on the meaning of 'what we have lost' in the city. This has been a part of the MAS' permanent collection since 2017.