The first and only museum of Borgerhout. The smallest museum in Belgium
(and far beyond)
On September 25, 2021, 'the first museum of Borgerhout' opened, also the smallest museum in Antwerp, even in Belgium (and far beyond ;-)'. Since that festive opening day, this street museum has been accessible 24/7, every day. Every few months, a new automaton takes center stage, which you can bring to life from the street by turning a handle.
24/7 AUTOMATA STREET MUSEUM
Just behind the Antwerp Zoo (and Central Station) begins the fascinating Borgerhout district. And *that* is where a special museum pops up. A small museum. Two windows (one large, one small) and a crank handle on the street side. A hidden gem in the neighborhood, one that puts a smile on the faces of everyone who manages to find it.
It costs only 1 euro. You pay (card payment is possible). Then the museum lights come on, a small wooden figure in the small window sets a photo wheel in motion, and you can turn the handle of the large window. In this way, you—from the street side—bring to life the automaton (a purely mechanical storytelling machine made of recycled wood) displayed behind that window. I replace the automaton approximately every season.
The whole thing takes only one minute, but it colors your entire day! Or night, if you will. Because 24/7
24/7 AUTOMATA Street Museum, Kroonstraat 58, 2140 Borgerhout / Antwerp - Belgium
Antwerp regional television made this report about the opening of the 24/7 AUTOMATA Street Museum.
BIZARRE BELGIUM - 50 places for weird day out
Travel vlogger ' KAMIELUS ' wrote the book 'BIZARRE BELGIUM - 50 places for a weird day out' together with his wife. And look, the Automata Museum is mentioned in it, as one of the 50 most bizarre places to visit in Belgium! I won't get any closer to Leonardo Da Vinci (because he is also listed at one of those places) .
Kamielus posted this video about the Automata Museum on his digital media.
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Would you like to visit the studio behind that museum?
The 24/7 AUTOMATA Street Museum is accessible 24/7. Read: day and night. Always!
But behind the 24/7 AUTOMATA Street Museum is my studio, where I conceive, create, and build all my automata.
By the way, I have a small exhibition space there where a handful of automata are set up, where design drawings adorn the walls, and where screen prints hang.
Would you like to visit sometime? You can, at least if it works out (so not always) . Just get in touch.
There is also a 'museum on tour'
One of the installations I tour Europe with is an Automata museum on tour. A series of separate display cases that allow me to set up an automata exhibition relatively easily—in a wide variety of locations. With or without an exhibition of design sketches. This can be done both indoors and outdoors. The public brings the automata to life by turning a handle. This happens entirely mechanically. No electricity needed...