Celebrating 160 years of cultural relations between Belgium and Japan, The Gods of the House unveils two little-known treasures of Japanese folk culture: minkanbutsu, Buddhist sculptures created for everyday devotion, and boro, the patchworked textiles of rural northern Japan. Crafted by generations of anonymous artisans, these objects tell a different story of Japan—one of homes, inherited gestures, careful repair, and a beauty shaped by time. Protective wooden figures and mended fabrics reveal a profound connection between spirituality, memory, and daily life, while resonating with contemporary concerns for sustainability, craftsmanship, and reuse. The exhibition extends this dialogue through the work of three contemporary artists: Michiko Van de Velde, Peter Jacquemyn and Asya Amosova. Each explores themes of light, materiality, repair, and the sculptural gesture, echoing the values of simplicity, impermanence, and transformation embodied by these Japanese traditions. Bringing together historical objects and contemporary art, The Gods of the House invites visitors to rediscover the beauty of imperfection and the enduring power of everyday objects.
Les Dieux de la Maison / 家の神々
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