Polaroids

Ensemble

‘Polaroids don’t provide the same accuracy as digital or film photography, and they present more inconsistencies. I like to work with materials that are inconsistent because they leave more room for interpretation.’ Luc Tuymans

In 2006 Luc Tuymans donated an important part of his oeuvre, namely the Polaroids to the M HKA. This ensemble – around 1060 polaroids in total – is now in the public domain and the M HKA is charged with its management. Tuymans makes consistent use of polaroids in his investigations of ‘the image’. He likes the overexposure inherent to the polaroid medium. Furthermore, these are an essential component of his method of painting production. Liesbeth Decan, in an article for the Fotomuseum Magazine, has already commented on the pictorial quality of the polaroid and the manner that Tuymans makes use of it. The M HKA has digitalized the hundreds of polaroids and is working further on the series’ documentation.

You can discover below a small selection of the Polaroids that will be on view during M HKA On the spot.

About M HKA / Mission Statement

The M HKA is a museum for contemporary art, film and visual culture in its widest sense. It is an open place of encounter for art, artists and the public. The M HKA aspires to play a leading role in Flanders and to extend its international profile by building upon Antwerp's avant-garde tradition. The M HKA bridges the relationship between artistic questions and wider societal issues, between the international and the regional, artists and public, tradition and innovation, reflection and presentation. Central here is the museum's collection with its ongoing acquisitions, as well as related areas of management and research.

About M HKA Ensembles

The M HKA Ensembles represent our first steps towards initiating the public to today's art-related digital landscape. With the help of these new media, our aim is to offer our artworks a better and fuller array of support for their presentation and public understanding.