Antwerp (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – M HKA staff in Antwerp protest the planned transfer of the museum’s collection to Ghent. Piet Van Hecke leads the display, featuring a banner and a symbolic crate; Luc Tuymans attends, and museum entry is free all weekend.
As VRT News reported, Museum staff at M HKA in Antwerp have staged a striking protest at the entrance because of the transfer of the museum’s collection to SMAK in Ghent. A banner by artist Walter Swinnen, adapted with the heirs of the collection, read:
‘The collection that belongs here, belongs here.’
Piet Van Hecke, a staff member, said the display aims to make their concerns visible.
What will happen to the M HKA collection as the Staff protest moves to Ghent?
Next to the banner, staff placed a symbolic moving crate to represent the potential transfer of the collection to Ghent. The crate features a trail of painted blood leading to the museum entrance. A bloody hand hangs from the crate, giving the impression it is trying to stop the move.
“We plan to leave everything as is until something changes.”
Piet Van Hecke, employee M HKA
“We might eventually have to remove the coffin for safety reasons, but the banner is hanging on the building, so that won’t be a problem,”
says Van Hecke.
“We plan to leave everything in place until something changes.”
Piet Van Hecke said he is proud of his colleagues for managing the protest while also preparing the museum’s new exhibitions. He said the staff worked hard to balance both tasks. During the opening of the new collection, many artists and gallery owners are expected to attend. Among the guests will be the internationally known artist Luc Tuymans. Van Hecke said admission to the museum will be free all weekend. The staff hope the public will see both the exhibition and the protest display.
Van Hecke added that Minister Caroline Gennez (Vooruit) and her cabinet were invited to the opening night of the new collection but declined the invitation. He said the first official meeting with the minister is now scheduled for next Tuesday, Oct 14, 2025.
The Museum of Contemporary Art Antwerp (M HKA) was founded on September 20, 1985, as a successor to the International Cultural Centre, which had been active since 1970. The museum opened its doors on June 20, 1987, in a converted grain silo in Antwerp’s Zuid district, with an inaugural exhibition featuring the work of Gordon Matta-Clark. In 2002, Bart De Baere became director and continued the museum’s mission to present contemporary art from Belgium and abroad.
Comments
11 responses to “M HKA Staff in Antwerp Protest Collection Move to Ghent”
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Seems like Antwerp’s got a taste for drama—who knew a crate could be more expressive than a politician in a debate? 🎭 But hey, Ghent’s just a stone’s throw away, right?
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Ah, the M HKA staff really know how to put on a show—who knew moving art could be bloodier than a wrestling match in Ghent? 🎨💔 It’s like they’re auditioning for a new horror flick titled “The Great Collection Heist.” 🍿
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Seems like the folks at M HKA prefer their art collection like a fine Belgian beer—better poured at home than sent off to Ghent! 🍻 Talk about a dramatic move, eh?
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Seems like the staff at M HKA took a page out of a Shakespearean tragedy—blood on crates and all that for some art relocation drama! 🎭 Who knew moving collections could spark such a bonkers protest? 🤷♂️
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Looks like the M HKA staff are putting on quite the show—who knew a crate and some paint could rival Van Dyck? 😂 But hey, if Ghent gets the art, at least Antwerp can keep the drama!
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Typical, innit? Just when you think Antwerp’s got it all figured out, they decide to play musical chairs with the art collection. 🤷♂️ As if Ghent needs more “culture”, right? 🎭
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Looks like Antwerp’s staff are really pulling out all the stops to keep their precious collection from playing hopscotch to Ghent. I mean, who needs a peaceful transfer when you can have a dramatic blood trail and a symbolic coffin, right? 😂
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Looks like the staff at M HKA are staging a proper Flemish drama over a move to Ghent—who knew a crate could have such emotional weight? 😅 Free entry this weekend, folks; come for the art, stay for the melodrama!
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Blimey, who knew moving art could spill so much blood? 🎨🩸 Clearly, Ghent’s just itching to up their cultural game—Antwerp, better grab your best crate and a few more banners, eh? 😂
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Oh, brilliant move, just what Antwerp needed—a little art collection drama! 🙄 Because who doesn’t love a good crate of chaos with their weekend plans?
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Typical Belgian drama, eh? One minute you’re admiring contemporary art in Antwerp, next minute you’re shifting crates like you’re in a game of Tetris, all while hoping your beloved collection doesn’t end up in Ghent’s ‘fancy’ museum. 😂
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