Five questions for an M-art patron: "I struggle to imagine a world without art"

Five questions for an M-art patron

"I struggle to imagine a world without art"

At the age of 67, Denise Vandevoort has a deep-rooted affinity for M. As Leuven’s former Alderperson for Culture, she was instrumental in the creation of the new museum. “It was only natural that I would become an M-art patron myself.”

How long has art been part of your life?

“My whole life, actually. Although it may not have been the primary focus in my upbringing, I was exposed to artistic works at school and in religious settings, which ignited my passion for the arts. It definitely struck a chord with me.”

“I used to read in church every day. At the age of fifteen, my faith disappeared, but my interest in art remained. I went to a technical school for girls near Hasselt, where we had art history lessons. Our teacher was a formidable man; everyone feared him. He was an artist himself, though, and knew his stuff. He had an open mind, too. We learned about modern art, and even about female artists, which was far from self-evident at that time. I was like a sponge.”

Zaalzicht 'Collectie van M', 2024, M Leuven, foto: © Marie Dreezen voor M Leuven

Why did you become an M-art patron?

“Ah, I have always said that, once I retire, I would do just that. I was Leven’s Alderperson for culture for 20 years, and the museum was part of my portfolio. Most of the time, it was an autonomous municipal enterprise, and I chaired its board of directors. Therefore, I always needed to be well informed about what was happening at M. I wanted to be able to answer the questions of both the city council and the board members, not only about policy, but also about the collection.”

“Over the years, I have learned a lot about art and the art world. And I was involved in the launch of the M-bassadors initiative, which later evolved into the M-art patron scheme. It was only natural that I became an M-art patron myself.”

What impact does art have on your life?

“I struggle to imagine a world without art or culture. For example, reading is something that’s absolutely vital for me. My sister volunteered at Steevort Library, and new books were brought there to be catalogued. I was then able to read them, even those for adults, and it was very enriching for me.”

“I also go to the cinema regularly and to exhibitions. For example, I recently visited the Margaret of Parma exhibition in Oudenaarde. Or I go to La Boverie in Liège. I got to know it better during the Covid pandemic. I visited a huge number of exhibitions during that time. Everything else was closed, but museums could remain open.”

Are there artworks that have particularly moved you?

“Definitely, it’s just hard to choose… Perhaps one that I’m really proud of, because I worked on its acquisition: the very first video artwork in Leuven. As alderperson, I was also responsible for equal opportunities at the time, and the women’s movements were frustrated that there were only statues of men to be found in the city, so we searched for alternatives. But what exactly were we looking for? Another classical statue, but this time of a woman? I sought advice from art connoisseurs, and Luk Lambrecht guided us in the right direction. He had seen a video installation at the Watou Art Festival by Milica Tomic , a Serbian artist, a work about violence against women. She is in the centre of the screen in a white dress. She turns around and blood spatters and stains gradually seep through the dress. It is a visceral and timely work.”

Why do you believe that people should become M-art patrons?

“Well, I find it a very pleasant group of people, and that is always important. But you should also do it for the programme: you are guaranteed to broaden your horizons. In January, we went to the South of France with a group of M-art patrons. Every day we visited museums and art galleries, where we encountered art from different eras, with explanations provided by M’s curators. All the participants were hugely enthusiastic.”

“When a new exhibition opens, the artists join you around the table at the preview. I find this thrilling, but I have one suggestion: there could be a few more events (laughter).”

M-cenassen op bezoek bij een kunstenaar in haar atelier — Diederik Craps voor M Leuven

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