Exhibition : The Gods of the House / 家の神々 / 3-23 oct.

Folk Buddhist Sculptures and Boro Textiles from Rural Japan

Exhibition opened from the 3rd to the 23rd of Octobre.

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.

Opening days and hours :

03 October : 18h - 22h00 (opening night - free entrance)
05 October : 12h - 17h30
06 October : 12h - 17h30
07 October : 12h - 16h30
08 October  : 12h - 17h30
09 October  : 12h - 17h30
10 October  : 11h - 16h30
11 October  : 11h - 17h30
13 October  : 12h - 16h00
14 October  : 12h - 16h00
19 October  : 12h - 17h30
20 October  : 12h - 17h30
21 October  : 12h - 17h30
22 October  : 12h - 17h30

Outside these hours, the exhibition is accessible during performances taking place at the ARTONOV Lab, provided that you have a valid ticket for the performance. 

Tickets at the venue (8€, free under 18 year old)