At home in Burgundian Mechelen
Museum Hof van Busleyden, Mechelen (BE), 2024
History often tells the stories of the rulers and the victors. At Museum Hof van Busleyden, visitors can discover the story of Mechelen during its days as the capital of the Burgundian Netherlands, complete with the rarely heard voices of those living on the margins, some of whom felt at home in the city and some of whom didn't.
Photos: Sophie Nuyten, Museum Hof van Busleyden & Studio Louter
A fresh look at the permanent collection
Together with Museum Hof van Busleyden, once the home of Hiëronymus van Busleyden, we took up the challenge of presenting the permanent exhibition’s storyline in a more focused and effective way. We also took on board audience feedback that indicated people wanted to see more noteworthy artworks within a more diverse and inclusive collection. Strikingly, in the end we retained most of the existing layout and arrangements, making the renovation a sustainable one. Using our Emotion Design method, we developed the concept “At home in Burgundian Mechelen”.
“The most beautiful compliment we received is that the museum now has a soul. It came from the well-known local guide Marcel Kocken.”
Kristl Strubbe, director Museum Hof van Busleyden – February 2024
A layered narrative
In devising the concept we decided to confine the story to the Burgundian period (1473–1530), one of the most significant in the city’s history. The exhibition starts in 1507, when visitors meet two prominent new local residents. Margaret of Austria is the influential regent of the Netherlands; Hiëronymus van Busleyden is a leading member of the Great Council, the Netherlands’ highest court. They and the nobility make up Mechelen’s wealthy upper crust. But it’s not only the elite who are represented here. As visitors pass through the exhibition, they meet artisans and beguines, along with people living on the margins of society, such as executioners and sex workers. People from all strata of the population can be found in the city. Some feel at home; others do not.
A trove of Flemish masterpieces
Visitors discover the renewed exhibition via three themes: At home with Margaret, At home with Busleyden, At home in Burgundian Mechelen, and At home with the Sisters Hospitalliers. Flemish masterpieces serve as keynotes. Every item has its proper place, from the beautifully illustrated Mechelen Choirbook specially made for Margaret of Austria, one of the masterpieces, to modern works like the video installation “Helga Humming”, a contemporary interpretation of polyphonic music. The Enclosed Gardens, extravagant retable cabinets depicting paradise gardens, also play an important role in the exhibition.
Contemporary art
In response to requests by the public for more diversity and contemporary art in the museum, each gallery features subtle interventions by present-day artists. Anouk de Clerq’s video installation “Helga Humming” can be found in the gallery containing Bernard van Orley’s portrait of Margaret of Austria. While Margaret does not look at the viewer, the slowly moving historically costumed Black actor in the video does, adding a modern twist to the past. Other well-known artists include Berlinde de Bruyckere and Sofie Muller.
Hidden voices
History tells us little about the people who lived on the fringes of society, but they too were part of Burgundian Mechelen. Working with AudioCollectief Schik, we added audio points to make their hidden voices heard. For example, an audio guide reveals that the sex workers and women with baskets on their heads seen at the edges of Adrian van den Houte’s painting “The Camp of Charles the Bold at the Siege of Neuss” were actually spies working for the Flemish cities in their revolt against the Burgundian Duke. This way, we created a more diverse and inclusive collection.
“The museum has made a quantum leap forward in telling the story of Mechelen’s most important period.”
Bart Somers (mayor of Mechelen), HLN – February 2024
Credits
Client
Museum Hof van BusleydenContent design
Studio LouterSpatial and Graphic Design
Atelier Alkema
OTWAudio
AudioCollectief Schik
Sound WizardFilm production
Audiocollectief Schik
Interviews with Bert Watteeuw, Naomi Meulemans, Lisa DemetsCopy editing
Marthy LochtConstruction
Potteau