MDD Museum in Deurle has reopened with works by Rothko, Magritte and Blinky Palermo

The MDD in Deurle (East Flanders) is housed in a white, horizontal, modernist building dating from 1967, designed by the Bruges architect Erik Van Biervliet. A few years ago, there was talk of expansion, but it did not go ahead after all sorts of opposition. ‘We have abandoned that ambitious plan,’ says Goedele Bartholomeeusen, MDD director since 2023. ‘We opted for a renovation in several phases, within the existing building.’

For instance, a former depot has been transformed into a new, intimate exhibition space. You get to see a selection of the art collection of the Andries-Vanlouwes, some of which has been loaned to the MDD. An impressive collection of modern and contemporary art displayed in surprising combinations: René Magritte hangs next to a Seventies wall relief by Imi Knoebel, a seascape by Léon Spilliaert next to a work by Luc Tuymans.

Usually you have to travel to Paris or further afield to see works by Mark Rothko, but here you can witness a very special monumental red-brown-pink-grey canvas. On show are paintings, sculptures and other works. Many pictures in the collection seesaw between the figurative and the abstract, or between two- and three-dimensional, says director Goedele Bartholomeeusen. Such was the taste of the collectors.

Who were these art collectors Jan Andries (1933-2015) and Lieve Vanlouwe (1936-2021)? Andries was a textile entrepreneur and founded the Belgian fashion brand Andres, now Xandres.

‘They were on the board of the MDD for many years and during their lifetime donated works of art. They identified very strongly with the aim of the museum's founders, namely, to broaden access to art, organise lectures, use understandable language in brochures and so on,’ explains director Bartholomeeusen. ‘They themselves learned a lot at the museum and wanted to pass that on to others thanks to their collection.’ This is art as an inclusive and open form of communication.

The ‘Andries-Vanlouwe Pavilion’ in the revamped annex is the result. ‘We are very pleased to have received the confidence of the museum foundation to work and use this art. Our intention is to encourage loans; the artworks will not always stay here; they will also travel to other exhibitions.’ And director Bartholomeeusen makes us curious: ‘There are more interesting works that are not yet on display today.’ Something to look forward to in Deurle!

Blinky Palermo, a cult artist with lasting influence

The square patio at the heart of the MDD has also undergone a major overhaul: the exterior, lighting, air conditioning. Now the museum conditions are optimal to display precious and fragile artworks. This is needed to showcase the work of Blinky Palermo (1943-1977), the pseudonym of the German cult artist Peter Heisterkamp, who caused a furore at international exhibitions like Documenta Kassel or the Venice Biennale in the 1960s and 1970s but died young.

‘Apparently, he closely resembled an American boxer and mafia boss named Blinky Palermo,’ explains Goedele Bartholomeeusen. He was orphaned in World War II and later the famous German artist Joseph Beuys took him under his wing. ‘In the 1960s, he and other artists like Gerhard Richter or Sigmar Polke really created change. And that is still true today. When I talk to contemporary artists, it turns out that they are often very much influenced by his work.’

Giant works of thin textiles, ‘Stoffbilder’, sculptures, a mural like a Jacob's ladder to heaven, witty miniature paintings or colourful block patterns called ‘Flipper’. ‘Blinky Palermo knew how to let the everyday shine,’ says curator Ory Dessau.

The works mainly come from German (private) collections and it was by no means easy to bring them all together in Deurle. It is the first Blinky Palermo exhibition in Belgium. MDD adds works by Luc Tuymans and by Brit Robert Grosvenor. The bright yellow shell of a sports car, a Lotus Europe, looks like a nod to second-hand car shops in our area, laughs Goedele Bartholomeeusen.