Historian and author Peter Frankopan has curated the inaugural exhibition at BRUSK, a new museum in Bruges, Belgium. Titled "Bigger Picture: Connected worlds of Bruges 900-1550," the show explores the city's medieval role as a global hub for trade, culture, and politics, featuring over 250 objects from 90 lenders worldwide. A rare loan from the Vatican Library—a portrait of Byzantine Emperor Alexios I—is a highlight. The exhibition opens alongside a digital work by Refik Anadol and a fresco by Laure Prouvost.
The exhibition matters because it establishes BRUSK as a major new cultural institution in Bruges, bridging the city's rich medieval heritage with contemporary art. Frankopan's curatorial approach, drawing on his expertise as author of "The Silk Roads," brings international attention to Bruges' historical significance. The show's scale and rare loans underscore the growing trend of museums collaborating globally to tell interconnected stories, positioning BRUSK as a key player in the European museum landscape.