Exhibition

In 2017, on the occasion of its ten-year anniversary, the Vanhaerents Art Collection radically reshaped the way it presented its holdings to the public. Moving away from conventional exhibition models, the collection embraced the concept of the viewing depot, where aesthetics and functionality merge, offering visitors an unprecedented behind-the-scenes encounter with one of Europe’s most significant private collections of contemporary art. Spanning more than 3,500 m², the viewing depot allows direct access to a body of work accumulated over nearly four decades by the Vanhaerents family.

Opening on 24 April 2024 in Brussels, EXH#03 is the third major presentation within this unique setting, curated by Walter Vanhaerents together with his children Joost and Els. Associative in nature, the exhibition highlights recent acquisitions and seminal works, brought together across all three floors of the collection. Drawing inspiration from the Chinese zodiac signs —EXH#03 presents large-scale works that fuse aesthetic innovation with emotional directness and intensity, while resonating with urgent social and cultural questions of our time.

The works on view delve into themes such as oppression, the deprivation of freedom, and the erosion of individuality. Each artist offers a unique perspective:

• Stephan Balleux (b. 1974) conveys alienation and the distortion of the human form in his stark grisaille painting The Guardian (2007).

• Gregory Crewdson (b. 1962) explores the isolating nature of American suburbia in his cinematic series Beneath the Roses.

• Alvaro Barrington (b. 1983) substitutes canvas with jute, evoking undervalued labour and overlooked trade in a reflection on social inequality.

• Jonathan Meese (b. 1970) confronts audiences with provocative statements that probe authority and ideology.

• Zakaria Ramhani (b. 1983) challenges religious traditions and condemns political violence in layered, thought-provoking works.

• Jin Meyerson (b. 1972) examines natural disasters, human migration, and industrial transformation, addressing forces that shape societies.

• Ugo Rondinone (b. 1964) invites introspection and melancholy through minimal yet deeply resonant works.

• Aaron-Viktor Peeters (b. 1994) reflects on migration and mobility, referencing a mountain formed by Italian immigrant labour in the mining region of Genk, Belgium.

• Gillian Wearing (b. 1963) employs masks to reveal complex layers of identity and persona.

• Eddy Kamuanga Ilunga (b. 1991) exposes the exploitation of Congolese people and resources, confronting systemic injustices.

• Gilbert & George (b. 1943 and 1942) provocatively insert their own bodies into Bloody Mooning, set against imagery of bodily fluids, critiquing society’s self-destructive impulses.

EXH#03 thus offers a powerful and multifaceted journey through contemporary art, intertwining aesthetic force with pressing reflections on the human condition.