MAS Museum aan het Stroom

getting to know the

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The MAS. A must-see.

© Sarah Blee

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GETTING TO KNOW THE MAS Antwerp is a city on a river. It has a port. For centuries this has made it a place of meeting, encounter and exchange.

The MAS takes up the traces of these exchanges and with them it tells new stories. About the city, the river, the port.

About the world in all its diversity. About the essential connection between Antwerp and the world.

Come and meet Antwerp in the world - come and meet the world in Antwerp.

THE MAS AS A WHOLE The museum building The MAS was designed by the Dutch architectural firm Neutelings Riedijk Architects. Their 'warehouse' was chosen from 55 submissions from around the world. It is located on the site of the former Hanzehuis (Hanseatic House), which was a storage depot in the 16th century.

The MAS is much more than a museum. It is the sum of many experiences: the museum rooms, the Visible Storage, the MAS boulevard, the rooftop panorama, the museum square, the pavilions, the catering, etc. The MAS is alive outside of the building as well as inside.

The MAS is an open house. Only access to the museum rooms is at a charge.

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MAS-boulevard (free entry) Escalator display cases Approximately 80 young people from MAS in Jonge Handen (MAS In Young Hands) have worked around the theme 'Across the borders' during the autumn of 2010. They were given professional assistance from the art education organisations Piazza dell’Arte and De Veerman. Artist Anne-Mie Van Kerckhoven was both sparring partner and coach.

Mini exhibitions A great many people have contributed to the realisation of the MAS by acquiring a Hand (see outer façade). Donators and sponsors are memorialised in mini exhibitions at the beginning of the escalators from floors 2 to 7. Their names and messages are accompanied by original excerpts from bookseller George Wittenborn’s (1905-1974) legendary visitors’ book.

This contains the hands of more than 300 artists – drawn, in collage or photographed.

Medallions Just like the museum, writer Tom Lanoye and graphic designer Tom Hautekiet pay tribute to the city, the port, the river and the world. Hautekiet used the plans for Palmanova, the ideal Renaissance city, as his foundation.

Light panels Anne-Mie Van Kerckhoven has created imaginary digital landscapes. Her source of inspiration was the 16th-century book by the Italian Piero Valeriano Bolzani from the Museum Plantin-Moretus | Print Room.

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THE MAS FLOOR BY FLOOR +� | MAS info desk + Cloakroom + Toilets + First Aid + Lift + MAS café STORM +�,� | Studio +� | Offices +� | Visible Storage (free entry) Discover the story behind the collection: from the major collectors to the rules of the art for good maintenance and management.

+� | Temporary exhibition Masterpieces in the MAS. Five centuries of images in Antwerp

+� | DISPLAYS OF POWER | On Prestige and Symbols +� | METROPOLIS | On Here and Elsewhere +� | WORLD PORT | On Trade and Shipping +� | LIFE AND DEATH | On Men and Gods +8 +� | LIFE AND DEATH | On the Upper- and Underworld +� | ‘t Zilte Restaurant + 9 Beaufort Reception Hall +�� | Panorama (free entry) The roof of the MAS offers a 360° panoramic view on the city, the river and the port.

Note: the rooftop viewing area can be closed to the public for safety reasons.

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B-architecten have provided an innovative design for the museum rooms.

In-house composer Eric Sleichim has created a sound sculpture for each floor of the MAS. The musical pieces can be heard in the first area of every museum floor.

The MAS brings together the collections from the former Etnografisch Museum, the Nationaal Scheepvaartmuseum and the Volkskundemuseum. Together with a part of the Collectie Vleeshuis, they are given a new home and new lease of life. The collection amounts to a total of 470,000 objects and is still growing.

The MAS has combined the collections so as to give an innovative account of how Antwerp is connected to the world through four universal themes with which everyone can identify. This is also shown in the temporary exhibition on the third floor.

Š Filip Dujardin

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+3 | Temporary exhibition | Masterpieces in the MAS This is the MAS’s opening exhibition. It shows, using the best pieces from Antwerp collections, the evolution of the visual culture from the Middle Ages to today. On display until 30 December 2012.

+4 | DISPLAYS OF POWER | On Prestige and Symbols Power and its acquisition is a constant in history, especially in economically or politically important places like Antwerp.

In all cultures, important leaders convince others that they deserve power with beautiful and exclusive status symbols which underline their wealth, their wisdom or their divine status.

+5 | METROPOLIS | On Here and Elsewhere A city takes shape through buildings and events, and in portraits and stories. So how has Antwerp portrayed itself over the past 500 years? In short, as a city with many faces, but also time and again as a city by the river and of the world.

How do people elsewhere in the world deal with where they belong? The Kasena in Ghana live in their own particular way.

+6 | WORLD PORT | On Trade and Shipping Wherever water and land meet, ports are born. The world enters through them, while people and goods depart from them. People trade goods there, enter another world and come up with new ideas. Ports evolve along with the ships that moor there. But at the heart of this huge area of steel and concrete, the port still involves the work of people.

+7 | LIFE AND DEATH | On Men and Gods +8 | LIFE AND DEATH | On the Upper- and Underworld Where do we come from? Where are we going? Myths and religions, philosophers and scientists all try to understand, explain and give meaning to life’s most vital questions. Art objects and ritual objects reflect the diversity in interpretations. A significant element is the collection of Paul and Dora Janssen-Arts.

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INFO + TOURS MAS info desk + MAS Hosts and Hostesses Do you have a question? Our colleagues at the info desk and in the MAS boulevard will be happy to help you.

Visitors’ guide A collection of the room texts is available for purchase at the info desk (ground floor) and the MAS Shop (pavilion).

It is available in Dutch/French/English/German/Spanish.

Visit using your Smartphone Non-native speakers visiting the museum can read the translated labels on their Smartphones using the QR codes in the museum rooms.

These are available in Dutch/French/English/German/Spanish.

You don’t have a QR code reader yet?

Surf to: http://expose.MAS.be/en/QR Note: please register before your visit using the QR code at the info desk (ground floor).

MAS iPod You can borrow, free of charge and in exchange for your ID card, a MAS Smartphone at the info desk (ground floor).

Non-native speakers visiting the museum can read the translated labels on the MAS Smartphone using the QR codes in the museum rooms.

These are available in FR/EN/DE/ES.

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Tours with MAS guides All group guided tours can be booked through Antwerp Tourism & Convention.

T: +32 (0)3 232 01 03 F: +32 (0)3 338 95 91 E: visit@stad.antwerpen.be Note: a guided tour with your own guide can only take place in the MAS boulevard. The museum rooms can only be visited with a MAS guide booked in advance.

Š Filip Dujardin

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PRACTICAL INFO Entrance - Tickets for the permanent collections and the temporary exhibition are available for purchase at the info desk (ground floor).

- Tickets purchased in advance can be exchanged at the group desk (ground floor) for a valid entry pass.

- The MAS boulevard, the Visible Storage (2nd floor) and the panorama (10th floor) are free of charge.

Cloakroom There is an unattended cloakroom on the ground floor, offering small lockers that are locked with a 1 euro coin. The coin is returned to you once you re-open the locker. A number of larger lockers are provided for school groups.

Reduced-mobility visitors - Are you visiting in a wheelchair? Visit the info desk (ground floor). A MAS assistant will help you in the elevator to your desired floor(s) .

- Two wheelchairs are available at the info desk (ground floor).

- Adapted toilets are located on floors 0 and 9.

- The rooftop panorama (10th floor) is only accessible via stairs, but the side terrace (9th floor) has wheelchair access.

Sight-impaired people Guide dogs are welcome in the MAS boulevard and the museum rooms.

Babies and small children - Pushchairs cannot be taken on the escalator. Visit the info desk (ground floor). An assistant will help you in the elevator to your desired floor(s), or you can leave the pushchair at the lockers.

- The rooftop panorama (10th floor) is only accessible via stairs. The side terrace (9th floor) is accessible to pushchairs.

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- There is a changing table in the toilets on the ground floor.

- A breastfeeding spot is provided on the ground floor. Visit the info desk (ground floor).

Food and drink MAS-café STORM The MAS café STORM is located on the ground floor. It is accessible via the museum or via the museum square. You can have breakfast, lunch or a sweet stop here.

Reservations: T: +32 (0)3 231 43 00 F: +32 (0)3 231 47 00 info@cafe-storm.com www.cafe-storm.com ‘t Zilte Restaurant ‘t Zilte, the two-star restaurant run by star chef Viki Geunes, is located on the 9th floor.

Reservations: T +32 (0)498 51 01 42 info@tzilte.be www.tzilte.be 9 Beaufort Room The hall on the 9th floor can be rented out for events and activities.

Reservations: T: +32 (0)3 298 62 38 contact@cafe-storm.com

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WHAT YOU CAN AND CAN’T DO IN THE MAS General - Smoking is not allowed anywhere.

- Only guide dogs are allowed.

- A guided tour with your own guide is only permitted in the MAS boulevard. The museum rooms can only be visited with a MAS guide booked in advance.

MAS boulevard - Only cold snacks and soft drinks are allowed.

- The escalators are not wheelchair or pushchair accessible.

- You are allowed to take photographs.

Note: the MAS building is copyright protected. If you wish to use a picture of the MAS for commercial purposes, please contact info@neutelings-riedijk.com.

Museum rooms - No food or drink is allowed inside.

- You are allowed to take photographs without flash and tripod.

- You may not bring umbrellas, backpacks or large bags inside. You can leave these in the lockers in the cloakroom (ground floor).

- Change your mobile phone settings to silent.

The MAS has house rules that must be followed by all visitors and users of the museum complex. A copy can be viewed at the info desk.

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OUTSIDE THE MAS The museum square A 1,600 m2 mosaic by Luc Tuymans covers the surface of the square in front of the MAS. 'Dead Skull' refers to the commemorative plaque for painter Quinten Metsys on the façade of the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal (Cathedral of Our Lady).

Just like the MAS, Tuymans links the past to the present and the future. The square is best viewed from the MAS boulevard on the 5th floor.

The pavilions There are several pavilions located next to the MAS’s main entrance.

MAS shop The extensive museum shop has a wide range of gifts and a special selection of books.

Open Tuesdays to Sundays, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. info@masshop.be

UMICORE Silver Pavilion Umicore, the first founder of the MAS, has invited the silver museum, Sterckshof, to display a selection of the best pieces from its collection in the MAS Silver Pavilion.

Open Tuesdays to Sundays, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

MAS Port Pavilion Experience the Port of Antwerp in an extraordinary, interactive manner, using a large map of the port, a 360° projection and touch screens.

Open Tuesdays to Sundays, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

MAS Diamond Pavilion From a diamond in the rough to a sparkling stone: the exhibition follows both the lifecycle of the diamond as well as the history and the future of the diamond industry in Antwerp.

There is also a shopping area.

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Antwerp Collection The MAS is more than just a building or a museum. It keeps a finger on the pulse of the city of today. Therefore, the voyage of discovery doesn’t end within the museum’s walls, but extends outwards, deep into the city. The MAS invites you to discover the rich heritage of Antwerp.

For more info: www.mas.be

© Antwerp Tourism & Convention

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COLOPHON Texts MAS team, Vegas Design Volta | Vormgeving, Antwerpen Printer Antilope Publisher Carl Depauw MAS | Museum aan de Stroom Hanzestedenplaats 1 B-2000 Antwerp T: +32 (0)3 338 44 34 F: +32 (0)3 338 44 44 Legal Deposit Number: D/2011/0306/162 - May 2011 Photo: Sarah Blee Š MAS No part of this publication may be copied without permission from the publisher and entitled parties.

MAS | Museum aan de Stroom Hanzestedenplaats 1 B-2000 Antwerp T: +32 (0)3 338 44 34 F: +32 (0)3 338 44 44 E: mas@stad.antwerpen.be www.mas.be

Do not throw onto the public domain

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www.mas.be

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