Christian Boltanski’s Partner Demands Guarantees for Preservation of His Fragile Installations
3 November 2025 - 6:48 pm – Open letterOn November 2, 2025, Annette Messager, partner of the late, world-renowned French artist Christian Boltanski, sent an urgent letter to Minister Caroline Gennez. The letter addresses the planned institutional restructuring of M HKA and S.M.A.K., which has cast uncertainty over the future of Boltanski’s irreplaceable, fragile installations.
To: Minister Caroline Gennez
Subject: Urgent Request Regarding the Works of Christian Boltanski
Dear Minister Gennez,
I am writing to you as the partner of the recently deceased French artist Christian Boltanski, in order to express my deep concern regarding reports of ongoing institutional restructuring within Belgian contemporary art museums.
Christian Boltanski and I—both recognized among the most influential artists of the late 20th and early 21st centuries—have long entrusted significant works to the Museum of Contemporary Art Antwerp (M HKA) and to S.M.A.K. (Stedelijk Museum voor Actuele Kunst, Ghent). These works were placed in these institutions with the understanding that they would be preserved, publicly accessible, and treated with respect.
Christian’s installations are conceived as total environments—fragile, complex worlds that cannot be dismantled or treated as movable assets. We cannot accept that his works might be removed from M HKA or put at risk as part of an institutional realignment.
Until we receive a clear and official written commitment confirming that Christian’s works will remain in Antwerp and will continue to be regularly exhibited, I must respectfully request that any reference to his artworks be removed from the websites of M HKA, S.M.A.K., or any affiliated institution.
This matter concerns not only the protection of Christian Boltanski’s legacy, but also the integrity of the institutions entrusted with safeguarding cultural heritage.
I thank you for your attention to this urgent matter and look forward to your response.
Respectfully,
Annette Messager
Paris
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