Portrait of an M-arts patron

Literature, visual arts, music: When it comes to culture, Cecilia Haesendonck consumes it all. Since her retirement, she has also been writing herself. She has published novels, plays and poems, has written an award-winning essay and now focuses on musicals. Last but not least: Cil ("that's my writer's name") is a staunch M-arts patron.

A large part of my life revolves around art

Cecilia Haesendonck

M-arts patron

How long has art played a role in your life?

"For as long as I can remember. My first love was literature. When I was about six years old, a vacuum cleaner salesman knocked on the door. My mother allowed me to watch him demonstrate his models. I loved it: those wondrous, shiny devices, the pleasant sound they made, the spotless carpet afterwards... I had barely learnt to write but as soon as the salesman left, I ran to my room to write down my impressions."

What role does art play for you at the moment?

"A large part of my life revolves around art. I have always read a lot and now, I am also an author myself, my essay on Nobel laureate J.M. Coetzee was awarded the City of Leuven’s Essay Prize, something I am very proud of. I also really enjoy music, especially opera, and fine art, of course."

Portret van een M-cenas — © Rebecca Fertinel voor M Leuven

What was the first work you ever bought?

"A drawing by Elke Matthijs. There is a bit of a story behind that. I worked for a bank for a long time but 25 years ago I lost my job after a merger. That's when I decided to start a second life as a writer and self-published my very first novel. When I needed an artist to design the cover, I found Elke – a young artist from Leuven. For inspiration, I showed her a canvas by Ary Scheffer, a Dutch painter from the 19th century. She made six drawings based on that, one of which I chose for the cover. Once we knew each other better, she gifted me the other five drawings. They now have a place of honour in my flat. They are small, intimate works but at the same time sensual and melancholic. In 2020, I included them in 'Tweeënvijftig dagen corona' - a collection of poems in the Leuven dialect, with a translation in ‘proper Flemish’ next to it. I got to present the volume at 30CC and at M which was a great honour."

If a fire broke out in your flat and you could only take one work of art with you, which one would it be?

"Without a doubt 'The Mugshot', also by Elke Matthijs. It is a large canvas, perhaps a bit less figurative than her drawings. It has a very central place in my living room. In fact, I look at it all day long and I frequently discover new things in it, some of which I dare not repeat out loud here (laughs)."

M-cenas Cecilia Haesendonck in de museumzalen van M — © Rebecca Fertinel voor M Leuven

How did you become M-arts patron, and why do you think it's important?
"Five years ago, Denise Vandevoort – then Alderman for Diversity – asked me to co-write the book 'Ik kom van ver'. It contains 43 stories of strong women who ended up in Leuven from all corners of the world. To thank us, Denise gifted us a membership as M-bassador. I enjoyed it so much that, after a year, I decided to become M-arts patron."

"In particular, I enjoyed the social contacts, the openings of exhibitions, the tours.... You can deduct some of the cost of becoming an M-arts patron from your tax and it is used to support valuable artistic and socio-cultural projects. M plays an important role in the cultural life of our city. Just like 30CC by the way, the urban culture service. They do a lot for the clubs and associations of Leuven, I definitely want that mentioned too."

What work or exhibition at M has particularly left a mark for you?

"I remember an exhibition from last year: ‘Alabaster’. Superb! The craftsmanship, the love for detail, the beautiful material... Very soothing too."

"I am also looking forward to the Bouts exhibition at M. During the lockdown, I started writing musicals in the Leuven dialect! 'Bouts, the musical' will soon première. I wrote the libretto, and the music is by Marcel De Jonghe, a retired composer. The practical work is done by Musicals Vei Leive, an association I founded a few years ago. We will play the musical on 17 November in den Teooter in the Stoosestroot - de Schowburg in proper Flemish (laughs)."

"Two of my great loves, language and music, merge in our musicals. I love working on them, and sharing them with others in and around Leuven."

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

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