Marking the 450th anniversary of Roelant Savery (1576–1639), more than twenty masterpieces by this Kortrijk-born painter enter into dialogue with contemporary art. From imaginary landscapes and lush animal scenes to endangered species and exhausted ecosystems: depicting nature is a timeless pursuit, yet more urgent today than ever.
Set off on an expedition through the exhibition: dive into a dialogue between Roelant Savery and young Kortrijk-based artist Bram Demunter, two creators of wondrous worlds, four centuries apart. Discover surprising echoes of Savery in the work of 35 artists from Belgium and abroad, who use humour, poetry and provocative questions to challenge how we look at plants, animals and landscapes. Let yourself be moved by Pauline Boudry and Renate Lorenz‘s monumental rollercoaster in the Chapel: a poetic ode to nature’s eternal cycle.
Swinging between beauty and decay, After Nature tells a story that is both timeless and urgently topical, carrying within it a tentative hope for renewal.