Water as inspiration, a place of longing and an elemental force: with “High Tide”, Musea Brugge brings fashion and contemporary art into a multifaceted dialogue at the new BRUSK from 30 October 2026 to 14 March 2027. Conceived by renowned fashion curator Karen Van Godtsenhoven, the exhibition marks the first time that fashion and contemporary art have been presented together on this scale in Bruges.
The sea connects and divides, fascinates and threatens at the same time. “High Tide” explores this ambivalence, spanning everything from sun-drenched beaches, sea creatures and mythological figures to storms, pollution, migration and rising sea levels. Fashion, visual art, video, sound and immersive installations examine our emotional and social relationship with water – and the role the oceans may play in shaping our future.
Featured positions from the worlds of fashion and art include Versace, Iris Van Herpen, Bill Viola and Dries Van Noten. The exhibition brings established names into dialogue with a younger generation of creatives, addressing themes such as transformation, rebirth, threat, migration and feminist perspectives.
The setting could hardly be more fitting: for centuries, Bruges has been closely connected to the tides of the North Sea. At the same time, “High Tide” forms part of the first major exhibition year at BRUSK, Musea Brugge’s new art venue, which officially opened on 8 May 2026. Its inaugural programme included the first Belgian solo exhibition by media artist Refik Anadol. BRUSK aims to bring historical and contemporary art together, connect international artistic positions with the history of Bruges, and create encounters across different disciplines.
And BRUSK is intended to be much more than a new exhibition venue. In 2027, it will become one of the locations for Triënnale Brugge 2027 – “After Birth: Structures of Togetherness.” From March 2027 onwards, BRUSK will also provide a temporary home for major works from the renowned Groeninge Collection during the multi-year renovation of the Groeningemuseum. From the outset, the venue positions itself at the intersection of historical heritage, contemporary art and experimental exhibition formats.
High Tide – the exhibition book by Hannibal Books
Accompanying the exhibition, Hannibal Books will publish “High Tide” on 30 October 2026, edited by Karen Van Godtsenhoven and Michel Dewilde. Across 224 pages, the publication delves deeper into the poetic and transformative power of water in art and fashion.
'HIGH TIDE – Of Humanity and the Sea, Through Fashion and Art'
30 October 2026 – 14 March 2027
BRUSK, Bruges, Belgium
