Garden of Delights
With this exhibition project, The Phoebus Foundation focuses on nature and flowers in the art of the late medieval Low Countries. Through a plethora of masterpieces unveiled for the first time, this exhibition takes you on a real rollercoaster ride past exuberant bouquets by Jan Brueghel I, Clara Peeters, Anna Maria Janssens, Jan Davidsz. De Heem and David Teniers II.
Dainty lilies, fragile roses and exquisite tulips are joined by itchy insects, birds of paradise and a real mermaid. What begins with the search for God in every detail of creation soon becomes a story full of rock and roll, with smuggled bulbs, adventurous women and forbidden pleasure gardens. Combine this to an intoxicating set design by Walter Van Beirendonck, and the result is a complete artistic experience. Never before has the flower had so much power!
The exhibition is organised in collaboration with The Phoebus Foundation SON (Antwerp, Belgium)
Curator: Katharina Van Cauteren (The Phoebus Foundation)
Scientific consultant: Sven Van Dorst (The Phoebus Foundation)
Coordinators: Aleksandra Murre (Art Museum of Estonia) and Jasper Joris (The Phoebus Foundation)