S.M.A.K. revisits groundbreaking exhibition that brought art into Ghent homes
Ghent’s S.M.A.K. is commemorating the 40th anniversary of the influential exhibition Chambres d’Amis, the groundbreaking 1986 project in which contemporary artworks were installed not in a museum, but in the private homes of Ghent residents.
Curated by Jan Hoet, the original exhibition brought together 51 international artists whose works appeared in living rooms, bedrooms and stairwells across the city. It later became an international reference point in the contemporary art world.
“Jan Hoet had the idea to invite 51 international artists into as many private homes of Ghent residents. His intention was to take the museum outside and literally place art inside people’s interiors,” says curator Thibaut Verhoeven.
According to Verhoeven, the project was exceptional for its time because it integrated art into private domestic spaces rather than public settings. “That is the unique aspect of Chambres d’Amis. Many works were conceived specifically for those interiors,” he says.
From 30 May 2026 until 10 January 2027, S.M.A.K. will present an anniversary exhibition featuring new artistic interpretations of the historic project. Rather than reconstructing the original exhibition, invited artists Heike Pallanca, Haim Steinbach and Susanne Kriemann will create contemporary reflections on the concept of Chambres d’Amis within the museum setting.
The exhibition will also include an archival presentation highlighting the project’s historical significance and the experiences of the participating residents. “We wanted not only to show art historical information, but also to bring the stories and memories of the residents back to life,” says Verhoeven. “There are sometimes moving stories among them, and sometimes poignant ones.”
Visitors will additionally be able to view Le Décor et son Double by Daniel Buren at the Herbert Foundation at selected times during the exhibition period.
#FlandersNewsService | Chambres d'Amis' expo, at the S.M.A.K. Stedelijk Museum voor Actuele Kunst museum in Gent on Thursday 28 May 2026. © BELGA PHOTO JONAS D'HOLLANDER
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