In search of Utopia
Chapter 1: Utopia by Thomas More
The first part is entirely devoted to Thomas More’s ‘golden book’ Utopia. More wrote the work out of frustration for the corruption and misrule in English government and society. His response was Utopia: an imaginary island where happiness and justice reigned supreme. In this part you’ll also be introduced to More’s family and some of his closest friends, such as Desiderius Erasmus and Pieter Gilis.
Chapter 2: Dream worlds
Utopia is not only the story of dreams and ideals. Failure and disappointment are also characteristics of the search for a new society. The dream remains intact or it becomes a nightmare. This duality determines the character of the second aspect of the exhibition: success or failure.
Chapter 3: Beyond the horizon
Utopia marks the beginning of a period of intense innovation and voyages of discovery to new worlds beyond the horizon. Artists were fuelled by curiosity and their creativity was invigorated like never before. In this part of the exhibition In Search of Utopia, you will follow in their footsteps and discover the unbridled power of their imaginations.
Chapter 4: The universe in your hand
In the fourth and last section you will experience a sublime final chord. The desire for the ideal world was given new dimensions in art. People wanted to understand the universe and eternity better, not merely to believe. The exhibition will introduce you to original scientific measuring instruments made in Leuven in the 16th century. At that period, Leuven was a leading city for the production of armillary spheres and astrolabes. n.
Thema 3: Achter de horizon
In de tijd van More zijn grote delen van de wereld nog onbekend. Het is het 'ongekende land' of de verleidelijke en mysterieuze wereld 'achter de horizon'.
Thema 4: Het universum
Ten slotte leert de tentoonstelling je meer over de wens om het universum en de eeuwigheid te begrijpen en vast te houden.
