Omkijken

Omkijken contains artworks from various sub-collections, starting from works from the 16th and 17th centuries. These works are complemented by pieces that offer a new perspective on old masters and have special meaning for our curators. 

The exhibition is arranged so that visitors can look at the art with a personal view. This is done by hanging two groups of works opposite each other, as if they are in a fight. Two small curated groups hang fixed to the wall, while two large groups hang on racks opposite. The fixed groups ‘claim’ something, and the works on the racks respond accordingly. As a visitor, you can add a work from the rack to the fixed group via a screen linked to a surveillance camera.

Who is the star artist?

To look at art differently, you need to be aware of what influences you. The artist's name is such a factor, helping you categorise and determining what you see. If you know the name, you unconsciously already place the work in a certain category or in a familiar story. If you don't know the name, you can either be distracted or, on the contrary, have the opportunity to rewrite the canon by adding a work by an unknown artist to the big names.

What is your story?

To enjoy old art, you should have a lot of knowledge about the figures and stories depicted, often from the Bible or mythology. This knowledge used to be common, but now those stories have been replaced by modern media and pop culture. So are old paintings obsolete? Mythological and religious stories are often about us and our human experiences, which of course you can still delve into. Share your choice and a brief explanation with us in the gallery. Maybe your story will then get the spotlight!