The exhibition Form First takes place in the magnificent reception rooms, formerly of the Flemish Vanderkelen-Mertens family where they received their guests, held parties, and showed off their wealth and curiosities. It is the perfect place to discover the domestic culture of the European 20th century bourgeoisie.
An invitation to discover the intriguing objects of the museum’s collection, the exhibition allows contemporary visitors, like the eminent guests of the past, to take a look in drawers filled with shells, minerals, and precious trinkets. By looking at the functions, materials, and techniques of these objects, visitors can compare life then and now. How to use a windmill cup? What is a samovar? When forks appeared and were first used? Which hidden story and secret meaning holds the fan of Madame de Pompadour, mistress of French King Louis XV?
Largely interactive, the exhibition relies on tactile objects to compare materials and smells in order to discover the essence of these historical artefacts.
FORM FIRST
UNTIL 28 APRIL 2024
M LEUVEN | LEUVEN, BELGIUM
On the cover: © Dirk Pauwels
Source: Show On Show
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