Rolf Engelen/Silvia B

Museum Van Nagsael
Between 1965 and 2006 Museum Van Nagsael was the world’s smallest museum where artists and founders Rolf Engelen and Silvia B. took turns to act as its director. On a scale of 1:15 it was a miniature museum with exhibitions of contemporary art that changed monthly. Van Nagsael could be viewed day and night in a shop window on the Botersloot in Rotterdam. The museum functioned as a work of art in the public domain, gaining new meaning every month through the interpretation of invited artists.
Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen purchased Museum Van Nagsael in its entirety for the collection. In the present arrangement the original built-in sides of the display case that reveal the museum’s architecture can also be seen. The museum itself is closed off by a screen showing a film by guest curator Belinda Tournier about the installation of exhibition #65 on 1 March 2001. Many works, various artists’ books and correspondence from the 132 exhibitions have survived or have been donated. Museum van Nagsael thus built up a collection, which was stored in the bottom of the display case. These archive items in the central presentation area of the display case tell the story of Van Nagsael. At the moment we can see Sjarel Ex’s choice.