CODART, Dutch and Flemish art in museums worldwide

Compassion

31 January - 31 August 2025

Compassion

Exhibition: 31 January - 31 August 2025

Feeling or showing compassion is typically human and has many sides. The exhibition shows how we portray this in different times, cultures and worldviews. And also, what its abrasive sides are. Contemporary art by Ai Weiwei, Berlinde De Bruyckere and Stephan Vanfleteren, make you reflect on the more difficult questions about this theme.

How do we show compassion? What drives us to do so? Who do we see as good examples? What ideas inspire us to show solidarity? And what if the views clash? When the ideals are unachievable?

Théodore Géricault (1791-1824) after Anthony van Dyck (1599-1641), Saint Martin Dividing his Cloak, ca. 1812
Royal Museums of Art and History, Brussels

Compassion is about our need and aspiration to help others. You will see art from past and present and from all over the world that depicts this, as well as ornaments and utensils. A work by Breughel with the seven works of mercy, a Japanese print showing how to help the sick, a Congolese sculpture of a generous woman, a Tibetan prayer wheel with a compassionate mantra or a Masonic collection box. Each piece illustrates how humans want to help others. You will also be introduced to music and stories about the theme. You will listen to interviews by Lieve Blanquaert and reflect on your own ideas about compassion.

At the same time, contemporary artists invite you to think critically about the how and why of ‘compassion’. Besides visual works by Khaled Barakeh, Berlinde De Bruyckere and Ai Weiwei, photographer Stephan Vanfleteren made his own interpretation of the ‘works of mercy’ and artist Annita Smit created a surprising paper sculpture of posters calling for solidarity.