The sculpture garden and museum of the Verbeke Foundation present a collection that is equally quirky and at one with nature. Characterised by its focus on- collages and assemblages; and “Bio-Art”, derailing in the Verbeke landscape means wandering amongst the nature that embraces the art.

Just lie on your back in the Dome to gaze at clouds or stroll bare foot through the mulled sands of the glasshouses. Intuition and exploration is nurtured which inevitably leads to dialogues with the deciduous and unpolished world. The installations built in situ accommodate places where meaningful experiences can be shared. You learn to relax, it widens your perspective and promotes social cohesion. This down-to-earth experience at Verbeke is accompanied by a guide that slows down the walking tempo and activates the sensory perception. Intensifying attention and consciousness calms the mind and resets the pace.

The foundation’s repurposed site, the former Verbeke transport agency, includes warehouses which were converted into unique exhibition halls. One of the buildings was furnished to exhibit the diverse collage and assemblage collection, on rotation. Currently under the title Magical Collages, the Stedelijk Museum Schiedam shows more than 300 works from this collection.

Other exhibitions are held at the museum with a summer and winter rotation. Subject to ongoing growth and transformation processes, Geert Verbeke happily claims over and over, “collecting is a disease”. To further engage with contemporary art and the land in which they inhibit, the foundation offers an artist in residence program for both established and emerging artists.

Opening this Sunday, November 24 from 3pm and continuing until April 5, 2020, is the foundation’s winter program. This will see a solo show, Machinations, by Paul de Vylder; a rehang of the collage museum; book presentations; films; and other projects. The following images are a mixed selection of the upcoming program, new acquisitions, permanent installations unseen on IC, and works from the 2019 summer cycle, Coming Full Circle.

View previous Collection Features with the Verbeke Foundation on IC from 2017 and 2016.

The Verbeke Foundation is featured in the BMW ART GUIDE by INDEPENDENT COLLECTORS.