Portrait of an M-bassador

Bart Persoons (56) is Leuven born and bred – ‘Kapucijnenvoer on my mother’s side, Blauwe Hoek on my father’s side’. Life took him to Erps-Kwerps, but he has always remained a loyal visitor to M. He recently became an M-bassador again.

Looking at art encourages you to feel wonder, react emotionally, have an open mindset. And M is unique in its combination of contemporary and historic art. In its location, too, in the centre of a busy, convivial city

Bart Persoons

M-bassador

Bart: ‘When M didn’t yet exist, the cultural offering in Leuven was pretty limited. Contemporary art in particular – which is what fascinates me the most – was something you hardly found in the city. So after the opening, I soon became an M-bassador.’

‘I cancelled it a few years later because it was hard for me to combine it with a busy job and a young family. I did visit M regularly, but then I just paid for a ticket. But the children are independent now, and a year ago my wife and I decided to become M-bassadors again. And we were really excited at the prospect.’

‘Viewing art encourages you to feel wonder, react emotionally, have an open mindset. And M is unique in its combination of contemporary and historic art. Its location in the centre of a busy, convivial city is also a plus point. You can more or less walk straight from the shops and cafés into the museum. Unlimited entrance is included in your M-bassador membership: so you can nip in and out, if it’s raining for example, or if you have a spare half hour. My wife and I go to Leuven every Saturday, so we visit M frequently. We could use our Museumpas [Museum Pass] for this, but Leuven is my city, and M is my museum. I’m also an M-bassador because I want to support the museum.’

Worn-out card

‘I mostly visit the contemporary art exhibitions – as an M-bassador you’re kept informed about that well in advance. My favourite was the Sol Lewitt exhibition, in 2012. One of the things Lewitt was known for was his colourful, abstract murals, and these were on display at M for the first time in Belgium. I must have gone back to look 20 or 25 times!’

‘My dream is for M to organise another exhibition of one of my heroes. Mark Rothko, Yves Klein, Basquiat... Then I’ll go and look every day, and my M-bassador card will be worn out (laughs). It might not be possible, but it would be amazing for M’s profile, and for Leuven in general. Imagine if they were to stage a blockbuster like this at M: people would come to Leuven from all over the world for it.’

Installatiezicht Sol LeWitt © M-Museum Leuven | foto: Lieven Herreman

Hands off!

‘When I visit M, I like to have a chat with the gallery attendants. They know how visitors react to exhibitions, which works they stand in front of the longest, and so on. I work in marketing, and the interaction between – how can I put it – supply and demand has always fascinated me.’

‘You also pick up some really interesting background information. I was recently at the Leen Voet exhibition, and in one of the rooms there were several colourful works to which I wasn’t immediately drawn. The gallery attendant explained to me that these were later, more abstract interpretations of figurative works that Leen Voet had made as a teenager. These were hanging right next to them in the same room, but I hadn’t spotted the similarity. So that was kind of an eye-opener.’

‘I know you can also get that kind of information from the audio guide, but in all honesty, it’s not my thing: I prefer to experience art on my own. I always have to restrain myself from touching the works. My wife sometimes has to say: ‘Keep your hands off that, darling!’ (laughs) I’m interested in the materiality of an artwork: what support has the painter chosen, how have they applied the paint and in how many layers, how has the work been framed and hung? With Leen Voet, some of the works were exhibited in the centre of the room so you could walk around them – I loved that. On the back, she’d also written things here and there: so she herself was also playing with that extra dimension.’

Bezoekers in de tentoonstelling van Leen Voet in M

Small imperfections

‘I often visit museums and galleries, and if you view at works at close range, even by big names, you often see small imperfections: little hairs or flies that have got stuck in the paint, drips, dull spots, and so on. For some painters that is part of the creative process, but the perfectionist in me struggles with it (laughs).’

‘I also paint myself, perhaps that has something to do with it. I never had an academic training, but over the years I’ve developed my own form, my own signature. I like working with repetitive motifs, and with colour. I design the wrapping for ZUUT chocolate boxes, for example – so people might recognise my work from that. Anyone who’s interested can always take a look at my Instagram account: @bart_persoons.’

Image-makers then and now

‘There is another reason why my wife and I have recently become M-bassadors again: you are invited to special activities. Trips to museums in Belgium and abroad, for example. If we find a gap in our diaries, we’d definitely like to go along.’

‘In June we went to the annual Friends Day for the first time, to which all M-bassadors are invited. The curator of the major retrospective exhibition around Dieric Bouts, which will open at M this autumn, gave a lecture there. It was so interesting! He explained that Bouts was not an artist in the way that we define it these days – a romantic genius who gives free rein to his inspiration in his garret. Bouts was an image-maker: he supplied religious scenes to order, in an era that painting was more or less the only form of visual culture.’

‘The exhibition confronts Bouts’ work with that of contemporary sculptors. Film directors, for example: among others you can see original storyboards of the Star Wars films – a key point of reference for our generation. I think that’s great: it allows you to see the old masters from a new, fresh angle. I’m looking forward to it.’