April 7, 1923. In the Beethoven auditorium in the Jozef De Bomstraat in Antwerp, a select crowd of curious music lovers gathers for an evening of “modern music.” Among them is the poet Paul van Ostaijen.

Van Ostaijen’s poetry is full of music: songs, operettas, Charleston, tangos, jazz. He describes his world complete with soundtrack. And it turns out that his ideas about art also inspire a group of young, modern composers.

On Tuesday, January 13, 2026, we will take you back to the early 1920s, when a group of young artists were enthusiastically experimenting with new forms and new sounds. In RELaX, you will be immersed in the images, words, and sounds that elevated the world to surreal heights. The musical performance takes place in connection with the exhibition Young Landscape, the fragmented world from Bruegel to Smits and Van Ostaijen (Jakob Smits Museum, Mol – November 29, 2025 – March 1, 2026).

With music by:
August Baeyens, Karel Albert, E.L.T. Mesens, Denise Tolkowsky, Lode Vets, Daniël Ruyneman

Piano:
Lies Colman

Vocals:
Pauline Lebbe

Concept and narration:
Matthijs de Ridder and Isabel Voets