A temporary exhibition in collaboration with LUCA School of Arts
In the Illustration programme at LUCA School of Arts, students learn to explore and imagine their view of the world.
The Art & History Museum is the museum par excellence where the interplay between worldview and imagination becomes tangible. It houses a treasure trove of remarkable artefacts from all times and corners of the world. The countless objects on display bear witness to equally countless ways of looking at and engaging with the world, revealing it in all its plurality and beauty. Behind every object lies a story — whether it is a modest little glass vase, a child’s balance bike, or an imposing centuries-old sculpture. Each object sparks the imagination.
In the autumn of 2025, an intense collaboration began between the museum and the second- and third-year Illustration students. First, the museum curators told the students the stories behind their most beloved museum pieces after which the students were free to explore and draw the collections over several days.
During Museum Night Fever on 18 October 2025, the public was able to admire the first results of this collaboration. The Grand Narthex was transformed into an “Open Atelier Ouvert” for all, featuring costumed models and sculptures on the catwalk inspired by museum pieces. Throughout the evening, the students also ran a drawing machine, producing unique postcards for visitors: “Kaart à la Carte.”
Meanwhile, on the drawing boards in the school's studio, the artefacts were given a new lease of life, springing from the imagination of the students. In their sketchbooks, they explored possible interpretations and developments of their ideas, ultimately arriving at a personal series of images that reimagines the object within a new context or narrative. The third-year students translated some of these images into large-scale screen prints. The second-year students combined a museum piece with a creature from The Book of Imaginary Beings by Jorge Luis Borges in a poster design.
In spring 2026, ARTEFICTION presents a wide selection of these works in the Mercator Aisle of the Art & History Museum. Expect a collection of images as rich as the museum’s own holdings: from sketch to poster, from sharp observational study to colourful fantasy world, from pencil to paint, from etching to screen print…
With works by:
Sophia Agafonov, Laura Allali, Jarne Bex, Dawn Bruwier, Jorinthe Crols, Lieselot De Bruyckere, Celestine De Cock, Mia Dekeyser, Alice De Meulenaere, Elias De Meyer, Kato De Schoenmaeker, Phara De Wilde, Aaike De Wolf, Norah D'haese, Stephanie Fockedey, Jolien Galoppin, Casper Groeninckx, Rosa Hanssens, Myrthe Hauben,
Floor Mechant, Trixie Meuris, Nick Moens, Febe Morreel, Mirthe Muylle, Otto Niemegeers, Linde Nuyts, Renée Olieux, Tito Orlando, Laura Penninga, Zuza Pietruszewska, Nel Rammant, Aysha Saidy, Stan Sanders, Luna Tanaka, Robbe Van den Broeck, Tijn Vandermassen, Maui Vanhandsaeme, Hanne Van Horebeek,
Petra Van Houtte, Mara van Kasteren, Sky Van Lommel, Hadewich Van Samang, Zoë Verstraete, Indy Verstraete, Fien Vileyn, Lynn Weyns.
Practical information
Location
Mercator corridor
Admission
Included in the museum entry ticket.
In collaboration with
LUCA School of Arts – Campus Sint-Lucas Ghent
