Excursion to MoMu – "Masquerade, Make-up & Ensor"

On the 22nd of October, we visited MoMu Antwerp for a guided tour of the exhibition, Masquerade, Make-up & Ensor. MoMu’s interpretation centers on makeup and its role in fashion, art, and self-expression. The exhibition features a mix of mediums: archival fashion pieces, paintings, objects, and even AI-generated "art".

While the theme held promise, I found the execution lacked a solid narrative. The museum often seems to prioritize showcasing its archive over constructing a solid narrative. We saw loosely connected objects but no argument as to why they were displayed. For example, a self-portrait of an artist in a face mask or a display of vintage beauty products was introduced by the guide with minimal interpretation, leaving the question: What are you trying to tell me?

Granted, I'm not saying that these exhibitions need to literally spell everything out for their visitors. Anyone who truly knows me knows that I love to dive deep into a topic and look beyond what I'm being presented.

But even I couldn't find a lot to truly discuss with my peers.

As a fashion enthusiast, I value MoMu and all fashion museums & exhibitions for giving me access to extraordinary garments, however, I keep leaving MoMu feeling unfulfilled.

Some of my peers felt alienated by the conceptual nature of the exhibition which provided little context to bridge the gap. Art and fashion should provoke thought and discussion, not confusion or worse, indifference. While the exhibition had standout moments, its lack of clarity risks disengaging young creatives from future cultural experiences which I find concerning.

In my opinion, when a famous museum like MoMu doesn’t really meet expectations, it can discourage people from exploring art elsewhere. If their closest highly “acclaimed” institution feels inaccessible or unengaging, they might not see the value in exploring further to experience other cultural offerings.

Contact Information:

• Website: MoMu Antwerp