KMSKA LATE - Literaire tour about Magritte

“Our happiness depends on a riddle connected to humanity; it is our only duty to try to unravel it.” With words to this effect, René Magritte concluded his 1938 lecture Ligne de vie at KMSKA, in which he described how he sought a visual language capable of responding to the absurd world in which he lived, a “world full of disorder and contradictions.” He developed the magical language so characteristic of his paintings, full of nonconformist images and disorienting combinations.

Today’s generation of emerging artists also seeks to offer alternatives to our society through new work. We invited former participants of deBuren’s writing residency in Paris to engage with Magritte’s exploratory approach and his work. Certainties are boring, after all, and the annual theme of deBuren is “Who (doesn’t) know may speak.” These new texts can be discovered during a festive edition of KMSKA LATE, when the museum opens its doors in the evening.

Mahat Arab (1996) is a spoken-word artist and organizer of book-related programs. Much of his work deals with identity, awkwardness, and the humor that can be found within discomfort. His work has previously appeared in De Revisor and Het Parool. He attended a writing residency in Paris with deBuren, and has performed at De Nacht van de Poëzie, Poetry International, Brainwash Festival, Lowlands, Down The Rabbit Hole, Zwarte Cross, and various venues throughout the Netherlands and Belgium.

Oumaima Belkhdar (2000) is a spoken-word artist and writer who creates experimental, genre-transcending work. Her absurdist pieces often explore alternative realities and zoom in on the grey spaces between social positions and identity. Recurring themes include time travel, mental health, (post)colonialism, and internet culture. She is a former deBuren resident, has performed on various stages, and has been published in De Revisor, among others. Oumaima is currently a resident at the National Theatre of Greece, writing her first play in collaboration with Theater Bellevue and Dawn Collective, while also working on her debut novel.

Sarah de Koning (1992) is a poet. She lives and works in Ghent. In 2022, she was selected for deBuren’s Paris residency. Her work has appeared in Het Liegend Konijn, nY, De Revisor, and DIG. In the autumn of 2025, her debut collection Tekstielen was published by Querido. Besides writing, she works at the Ghent bookstore Paard van Troje.

Marlena Tokarska (2004) lives and studies in Antwerp. In her poetry she explores the limitations of language, power dynamics, and alienation. Marlena was one of the 18 deBuren writing residents in 2025. Her work has appeared in Het Liegend Konijn and Backpage Magazine.

David Weel (1998) is a writer, podcast maker, and journalist. He was selected for the Das Mag Summer Camp and was a Paris writing resident with deBuren in 2023. His work has appeared in De Gids, DW B, and at Crossing Border. For the Dutch broadcasters VPRO and NTR, he creates audio stories. His audio documentary Als ik morgen doodga (“If I Die Tomorrow”) was nominated in October 2025 for the major Flemish podcast awards in the category of narrative podcasts.

• This activity is part of KMSKA LATE
• This performance will be conducted in Dutch.
• When?
  Thursday, 19 February at 7:30 p.m., 8:00 p.m., and 8:30 p.m.
• Where?
  In the exhibition. Starting in ROOM 1.0
• For whom?
  For anyone with a Thursday evening ticket, while capacity allows.
• Price
  Free with a museum ticket. No reservation required. Once full, it’s full!