From September 2024, several Antwerp museums will highlight the work of James Ensor. At MoMu, James Ensor’s explorations about masquerade, (false) coquetry, seduction, deception and the transient are brought up to the present day.

In MoMu’s autumn exhibition, ‘Masquerade, Make-up & Ensor‘, James Ensor’s ideas about masquerade, (false) coquetry, seduction, deception and the transient are brought up to the present day. MoMu celebrates the painters of fashion: the craftsmanship and inexhaustible creativity of make-up and hair artists, in a multimedia exhibition in which light, colour, art, fashion and make-up come together.

Exploring the phenomenon 

Down through history, make-up has often been viewed with suspicion and compared to the wearing of a mask: a mask to hide one’s true face. James Ensor was a critical observer of the world and the people around him. He recognized their insecurities and insincere coquetry.

 From 1888, Ensor used masks, clothing and accessories as ambiguous instruments for unmasking: a way of revealing the true nature and deeper feelings of his masked figures. 

The work of James Ensor leads to universal questions: Why do we wear masks? Why are people so afraid of visible aging? How do we deal with ideals of beauty that are always changing and are impossible to achieve?

Today, make-up and beauty have exploded into a trillion-dollar industry that perpetually confronts humans with their bodily impermanence, imagined imperfections and existential fears. However, like paint, make-up is also a medium for personal expression, artistic experimentation, joy and freedom. 

‘Masquerade, Make-up & Ensor’ investigates how closely intertwined make-up is with so many aspects of our being human.

MoMu has joined forces with iconic art, beauty and culture platform Beauty Papers to curate the works of leading contemporary make-up artists and photographers in three new video installations exploring the key themes of Ensor’s work through the lens of beauty today.

With work by James Ensor, Issy Wood, Cindy Sherman, Tschabalala Self, Genieve Figgis, Harley Weir, Julien d’Ys, Inge Grognard, Peter Philips, Martin Margiela, Christian Lacroix, Walter Van Beirendonck, Cyndia Harvey, Lucy Bridge, Eugene Souleiman, Eamon Freel, Bruce Gilden and many more.

Exhibition under the lead of curators Kaat Debo, Elisa De Wyngaert and Romy Cockx. Exhibition design by Janina Pedan. Graphic design by Studio M.

From 29 September 2025 to 2 February 2025.

Art and museums in Antwerp

• ANTWERP | Rubens House opens Rubens Experience, renovated garden and library.
• ANTWERP | ‘To the Antarctic. The polar pioneers of the Belgica’ exhibition at Museum Aan de Stroom (MAS).
• RED STAR LINE MUSEUM | ‘A wanted refugee: Einstein and Red Star Line’ exhibition until Sunday 8 September 2024.
• Antwerp will have a new Museum of Contemporary Art Antwerp M HKA.
• ANTWERP | Innovations in the Middelheim Museum provide a completely new visitor experience.
• FOMU 2024 | Antwerp photography museum ft. Dirk Braeckman, ‘RE/SISTERS’ and Nick Geboers.
• A visit of the Flemish Tram and Bus Museum – Vlaams Tram- en Autobusmuseum (VlaTAM) in Antwerp.
• ANTWERP | Discovering queer(ed) art with the Queer Tour at the KMSKA fine arts museum.
• REVIEW | Illusion Antwerpen, an active and photogenic museum.
• Antwerp museums and sports facilities team up with European Disability Card for accessible leisure activities.
• Museum Mayer van den Bergh.
• 2024 at Royal Museum of Fine Arts of Antwerp (KMSKA): Rubens, James Ensor, Jules Schmalzigaug and many more.
• 2024 at the museums of Antwerp ft. Ensor Year.
• ANTWERP | Inside Rubens House.
• Museum Plantin-Moretus in Antwerp.
• ANTWERP | Museum Vleeshuis up for restoration.
• BOOK | ‘Antwerp. An Archaeological View on the Origin of the City’ by Tim Bellens.
• Red Star Line Museum.
• Paleis op de Meir. 
• DIVA, Antwerp Home of Diamonds.
• ANTWERP | Red Star Line Museum of (e)migration.