Art Matters: postpostpost modern architecture and David Kohn
Art Matters: postpostpost modern architecture and David Kohn
Art

Mon. October 27, 12:15PM

Art Matters: postpostpost modern architecture and David Kohn

Join architect David Kohn and Kendell Geers as they ask: Can Postpostmodern architecture save Belgium’s art museums?  

The term post-post-postmodern was coined to describe the architecture of David Kohn. It captures a style that is both playful and deeply complex—an often eccentric approach that moves beyond postmodernism’s fascination with historical references and ironic symbolism. Kohn’s award-winning practice emphasizes an unconventional engagement with premodern forms and a distinctive commitment to craftsmanship, context, and materiality.


In 2024, Kohn—working in partnership with noAarchitecten and Asli Çiçek—won the international competition to redesign the S.M.A.K. museum in Ghent, Belgium. Following the recent cancellation of Antwerp’s new MuHKA museum, the transfer of the MuHKA collection to S.M.A.K., and the controversy surrounding the €125 million Kanal Pompidou project, attention has turned to Kohn.

 

His challenge is not only to deliver a new cultural landmark, but also to address a broader question: 

Why does art matter—and could post-post-postmodern architecture offer a solution to Belgium’s museum crisis?


speaker

David Kohn

David Kohn is an architect working internationally on artistic, educational and residential projects, paying particular attention to their historical and contextual integration, the choice of specific materials and their appropriate and sustainable use. David founded the practice David Kohn in 2007 and sets the design direction of all projects. His drawings have been exhibited at the Venice Biennale, Royal Academy, Design Museum and Soane Museum. Since 2003 he has been teaching design and he will be the 2027 Visiting Professor of Classical Architecture at Yale University. He is involved in design competition and award juries and was the 2024 Doolan Prize jury chair for the best building in Scotland.

moderator

Kendell Geers

Kendell Geers is a contemporary artist. His work confronts universal themes of love, resilience, and hope, driven by his belief that the act of making art is what defines humanity itself. In times of social crisis and political extremism, his work challenges audiences to consider how art can build bridges and restore a sense of shared humanity. Extending this vision, Geers hosts the Art Matters tables at TheMerode. Bringing together performance, philosophical inquiry, and community engagement, Art Matters embodies his conviction that art is not a passive pursuit but an active force for change. At its heart lies the idea that art changes the world, one perception at a time.
Start
Mon. October 27, 12:15PM
End
Mon. October 27, 2:00PM
Format
A Seat at the Table
Language
English (US)
Guest allowed?
No

Price

Registration for Art Matters: on postpostpost modern architecture
40.00€ Incl. VAT

Address

Event
Place Poelaert, 6
1000 Brussels
Belgium
Parking
Parking Poelaert, Place Poelaert 1000 Brussels

Detailed programme

Welcome
Mon. October 27, 12:15PM
Lunch and Conversation
Mon. October 27, 12:30PM
End
Mon. October 27, 2:00PM

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