Panamarenko
Fantastical flying machines by Belgium's most famous contemporary artist.
Cristina Pastor — Public domain · EvelienBauwens — CC BY-SA 4.0 · EvelienBauwens — CC BY-SA 4.0 · EvelienBauwens — CC BY-SA 4.0
SMAK is Ghent's museum of contemporary art and among Belgium's most important — founded by the legendary curator Jan Hoet (who staged the famous 1986 "Chambres d'Amis" exhibition in Ghent residents' homes) in an old casino hall in the Citadelpark opposite the MSK. Its collection from 1945 to today: Beuys, Panamarenko (the Belgian artist of fantastical flying machines), Broodthaers, Francis Bacon, Andy Warhol, Luc Tuymans. The museum does not show its collection statically but rotates bold temporary exhibitions that change constantly — every visit is different, sometimes shocking or puzzling, and that is its aim. Its wide white spaces and the sculpture garden around are part of the experience. For the contemporary-art lover: a major destination in Belgium. For others: the MSK opposite fits better, and SMAK for those wanting an enjoyable artistic provocation.
Fantastical flying machines by Belgium's most famous contemporary artist.
Every visit different — bold and provocative.
Jan Hoetplein 1, 9000 Ghent
Museum of Fine Arts (MSK)Ghent's Museum of Fine Arts (MSK) is among Belgium's oldest museums (1798) and m2 minutes walk4.4
CitadelparkThe Citadelpark is Ghent's great park south of the centre, on the site of a Dutc3 minutes walk4.1
GUM, Ghent University Museum and Botanical GardenGhent University's museum, opened in 2020 with an unusual subject: not a particu3 minutes walk4.7
St Peter's AbbeySt Peter's Abbey is among the oldest abbeys of Flanders — founded by St Amand in7 minutes walk4.5
STAM (Ghent City Museum)STAM is Ghent's city museum in the fourteenth-century Bijloke abbey (with a refe9 minutes walk4.6Ghent's legendary curator (1936–2014) who made the city a contemporary-art capital: the 1986 "Chambres d'Amis" placed international artists' works in ordinary Ghent residents' homes, then he directed Kassel's "documenta" in 1992 and founded SMAK in 1999. The square before the museum bears his name. Understanding him explains the museum's boldness.