SMAK Marks 40 Years of Chambres d'Amis, the Exhibition That Moved Art Into Private Homes
SMAK in Ghent is celebrating the 40th anniversary of Chambres d'Amis, the groundbreaking exhibition from 1986 that presented contemporary art in private homes throughout the city. This anniversary display features archival materials, lists of artworks in French, English, and Dutch, along with exhibition photographs and press information. Chambres d'Amis represented a significant shift from conventional exhibition spaces, inviting residents to share their homes with the public. It is acknowledged as an early example of relational and site-specific curation. SMAK’s program revisits this pivotal moment, recreating the exhibition's layout and participant information, and includes multilingual press releases and visuals. The exhibition is currently accessible at SMAK.
Key facts
- Chambres d'Amis is being marked on its 40th anniversary at SMAK in Ghent.
- The original exhibition took place in 1986.
- Chambres d'Amis installed contemporary artworks inside private homes in Ghent rather than a single gallery space.
- SMAK's anniversary presentation includes works lists in French, English, and Dutch.
- Press releases for the anniversary were issued in English, French, and Dutch.
- Exhibition images accompany the anniversary presentation.
- The project is regarded as a precursor to site-specific and relational art practices.
- The anniversary display is on view at SMAK, Ghent.
Entities
Artists
- Jan Hoet
- Heike Pallanca
- Haim Steinbach
- Susanne Kriemann
Institutions
Locations
- Ghent
- Belgium