Water, sea, oceans. For centuries, they have been a major source of inspiration for artists and designers worldwide. The many faces of water and its impact on contemporary fashion and art lie at the heart of ‘High Tide’. For its latest exhibition, Musea Brugge brings together fashion and contemporary art on this scale for the first time in Bruges, conceived by fashion curator Karen Van Godtsenhoven, in a fluid and surprising dialogue.
A sensory journey that inspires wonder
High Tide shows how fashion and art can help us look at the sea with fresh eyes. They invite us to feel, reflect on, and marvel at our relationship with water at a time when this vital connection is under greater pressure than ever before. The exhibition is a sensory journey through fashion and contemporary art, enriched by video, sound, and heritage. A journey that inspires wonder, moves us emotionally, and encourages reflection, dialogue, and a sense of connection. Not only with the beauty and power of the sea, but also with our own place within it.
Rediscovering the sea
High Tide invites visitors to rediscover the sea. Not as a distant horizon, but as a living world of which we ourselves are a part. The exhibition unfolds as a contemporary odyssey through the oceanic imagination. The journey begins at the water’s edge, where land and sea meet. From there, the route leads through twelve thematic islands that together form an archipelago of stories. Just as the tides shape the rhythm of the ocean, ebb and flow also give structure to the exhibition: from the calm of low tide, through the mysteries of the deep sea, to the pressing urgency of high tide.
The many faces of water
Along the way, visitors encounter the many faces of water: as a source of life and creative power; as a mythical realm inhabited by goddesses and sea monsters; as a mirror of our emotions, desires, and dreams; but also as a space of trade, migration, extraction, power, and conflict. The North Sea occupies a special place within this story. For centuries, it has shaped the rhythm of Bruges and its surroundings. It transformed the city into an international trading metropolis, inspired generations of artists, and remains today a powerful symbol of the bond between our low-lying country and the sea.
Iconic fashion creations and leading contemporary art
The exhibition features iconic creations by designers including Dries Van Noten, Chanel, Gianni Versace, Iris van Herpen, Alexander McQueen, Jean Paul Gaultier, Olivier Theyskens, BOTTER, and Marine Serre. Major contemporary artworks are presented by artists such as Pierre et Gilles, Bill Viola, Rinus Van de Velde, Wangechi Mutu, Harmonia Rosales, Martin Parr, Dominique White, Abdul Rahman Katanani, and Otobong Nkanga. New works by Shayli Harrison (Mutani), Di Petsa, Yves Beaumont, Eyes as Big as Plates, and Gabriella Ciancimino complete this unmissable exhibition.
Gallery
-
![Iris van Herpen]()
©Jip Mus -
![Olivier Theyskens]()
©Olivier Theyskens -
![Harmonia Rosales]()
©Harmonia Rosales Studio -
![Dries Van Noten]()
©Etienne Tordoir -
![Pierre et Gilles]()
©Pierre et Gilles -
![Maryam Najd]()
©Mu.ZEE Oostende, Maryam Najd -
![Otobong Nkanga]()
©Dominique Provost
Book a guided tour
-
Curators
Karen Van Godtsenhoven is one of the most influential Belgians in the fashion world. She has worked together with major designers, from Miuccia Prada to Ann Demeulemeester, and has received the Stella d'Italia, the Italian distinction of honour. As a curator, she has worked for world-renowned institutions such as The Costume Institute in New York, affiliated with the prestigious Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET).
Michel Dewilde (Musea Brugge) is curator of contemporary art, culture and history.
-
Credits main image
BOTTER Spring-Summer 2022 'Global Warning'
Photography: Viviane Sassen
Models: Ka'amed, Monykuoch
Styling: Imruh Asha
Styling Assistant: Aura Ammari
Set Design: Ibby Njoya
Movement Director: Yagamoto
Hair and Makeup: Zenia Jaeger
Production and Casting: Rachel Evans
