On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of SBKM / The Middelburg Foundation for Visual Arts (1991–2011) a panoramic view of the foundation’s past activities will be presented in the spaces of the Vleeshal. Entitled Unfolding the exhibition wishes to enter the archive, detailing the material published over the years: publications, invites, posters, documents and numerous images that have characterised the gothic space of Vleeshal Mart and Vleeshal Zusterstraat with the most experimental contemporary art.

With its intense activity the SBKM has shown how professionalism, research and constancy are the basis for the constitution of an internationally renowned art centre. A treasure for the city of Middelburg, which, through the foundation, shows a clear dimension of continuity within the great historical artistic past, that over the last centuries has made the city an important tourist destination. The foundation has always believed that experimentation paired with gothic spaces and artistic research can demonstrate how culture is a living entity continuing through new generations in an active dimension. In recent years Middelburg has been able to construct a reality within the sector of contemporary art which has made the city famous worldwide.

This exhibition wishes also to show how the dimension of the archive has become ever more important. The history, the past of contemporary art acquires such depth over the years that it becomes part of the exhibitive dimension.