Date: 15.12.2018 - 12.05.2019
Temporary exhibition
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Contemporary artist Berlinde De Bruyckere (born in1964, Ghent) encounters the remarkable ‘Enclosed Gardens’ for the first time in 2016. She is immediately struck by the fragility and beauty of these 16th-century devotional shrines. The hundreds of delicately crafted silk flowers in various stages of growth and decay reminded her of the withered lilies she had meticulously photographed in these different stages at home. To De Bruyckere, the fallen petals resemble the delicate human skin, a theme that frequently appears in her work.
The flower takes on a central role in the series It Almost Seemed a Lily, which the artist begins in 2017. The Lily carries many religious interpretations but in ancient mythology it is often also used as a metaphor. De Bruyckere borrows the title of the series from the myth of Apollo and Hyacinthus from Ovid's Metamorphoses.
In this exceptional exhibition at Museum Hof van Busleyden, De Bruyckere places her own series in dialogue with the unique collection of Enclosed Gardens, which hold a permanent place in the museum as masterpieces. These enclosed gardens symbolise a sanctuary, a miniature paradise shielded from the influences of the outside world. Through their texture, the lilies in De Bruyckere's series convey both tenderness and rawness. The series of sculptures in textile, iron and wax are framed by 18th-century oak floorboards from the artist’s home, marked by the footprints of centuries past. Each element in De Bruckere's cabinets holds special significance and together they create a new narrative, one that touches on the past and the future, and on beauty and decay.
It Almost Seemed a Lily is Berlinde De Bruyckere's first solo exhibition in Belgium since 2014. Some works from the series were previously displayed at Palazzo Fortuny during the Venice Biennale, Art Basel, Manifesta and the Sara Hildén Art Museum (Finland).
Programme
Publication
Accompanying this exhibition, the art book entitled ‘It Almost Seemed a Lily’ is published by Hannibal. It includes essays by contributors including Lieve Watteeuw.
Exhibition Partners
The exhibition was created in collaboration with KU Leuven, with support from the King Baudouin Foundation's Baillet-Latour Fund.
Learning Pack
A classroom resource has been developed around the exhibition, enabling schools to discover more about the Enclosed Gardens and the work of Berlinde De Bruyckere through active learning methods.
Read More
The book Enclosed Gardens of Mechelen - Late Medieval Paradise Gardens Revealed is due for publication in 2018. It gives a comprehensive overview of many years of international academic research. The book is available in the museum shop.
Family Trail
Families can borrow a discovery backpack during their visit. This offers a tactile way to explore the work of Berlinde De Bruyckere and the fragile Enclosed Gardens.
Guided Tours
Groups can explore the exhibition on guided tours that examine both Berlinde De Bruckere's contemporary art and the intriguing Enclosed Gardens.
Publication for Young People: Hyacinthus
Especially for the museum, Michaël De Cock wrote Hyacinthus. It Almost Seemed a Lily. The illustrations were created by Gerda Dendooven. The publication is used before a visit or as a follow-up resource for young people.
Berlinde De Brucykere on the Exhibition
In this video, the artist discusses her inspiration with expert Lieve Watteeuw.
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