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21th Century Museum of Contemporary Art

Writer's picture: Janet ShigekoJanet Shigeko

Updated: Jun 27, 2021


The exhibition “Double Silence” was on display from September 19th, 2020 to February 28th, 2021 at the 21st century Museum of Contemporary Art, in Kanazawa-city in Ishikawa Prefecture. The exhibition is by two modern artists Michaël Borremans and Mark Manders.

Michael was born and raised in Belgian and Mark was born in Holland and they are both living in Belgian.


In this exhibition, both of their artworks are displayed in two galleries out of seven gallery spaces and harmonized with each other.

Even though they are different artists, it didn’t feel odd to have two artists in the same room mixing their artworks “randomly.” Both artists have very similar styles; mixing of roughness and silence. For instance, Michael's subject matters do not have any movements but his paint brush strokes are rough. Mark's artworks, especially installations, usually have peaceful facial expressions but other areas or parts of face are intentionally made so rough that it seems like he’s still in the process of creating it.

Inside galley12, there is Mark’s “Living Room Scene” in the center and it is surrounded by Michael’s various paintings. The paintings are mostly showing a part of human features but not close to a portrait. Because of the title of Mark’s installation artworks and Michael’s paintings, the space itself becomes a living room filled with people who do not know each other but do not mind other’s businesses.



One of my favorite pieces from the exhibition was “Magnolias - ( I )” by Michael Borremans. It is a still-life oil painting on a canvas. As the title says, the subject matter is magnolia in a vase but it was dead. When you see it, there is no hope for the flower to relive and the vase seems to vanish because of a thin layer of painting where you can see the background outline and its dark colors.

Other pieces I liked were an untitled painting called “mask” by Michael. They were displayed in a rounded gallery space where they are almost displayed face to face but far from each other. I did not see a connection— or I might be mistaking there is a connection— between them at first, but when I looked at the Untitled painting after “mask” I couldn’t see them as inseparable pieces. “Untitled” painting is a portrait but it seems like he/she wears the “mask.” Interestingly enough, the portrait has glossy medium on face but only on areas where a mask would be on. I was astonished by the techniques Michael used to make a connection between those paintings even with the far distance and without an indication in the titles.


I was planning to go to “Swimming Pool'' by Leandro Erlish but there was a long line where you have to wait for 30-40min, so I decided not to wait in the line. Interestingly enough, I was able to tell people in the line were waiting to take photos for instagram or whatever social media they have from their outfit and age groups. From my perspective, instagram is making artworks cheaper and less valuable.



Profile of the Artists

Michaël Borremans ミヒャエル・ボレマンス

Born: 1963 at Belgian and living in Belgian.

Influenced by traditional European artists such as Velasquez and Monet

Expressing fears and dangers in daily life using subjects that do not fit in to the subject matter.


Mark Manders マーク・マンダース

Born: 1968 at Holland currently living in Belgian

A building as a self portrait (started since 1986)

Sculpture and 2D artworks can be complete as it is but installation artworks influences the room itself and versa




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