Galerie Mutu was founded in March 2020 by Maximilian Christiaens, a young collector of ethnography, contemporary art and design. At first the aim was to share his passion of African tribal art through photography and storytelling. Giving a glimpse of an object's power and aesthetics through a lens, he invites anyone interested to discover more. The final result became this, a selection of unique pieces, each with a specific focus on culture, authenticity and craftmanship.

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"mutu, pl. batu (classe 1/2 : mo- (mu-) / ba-)

traduction / dictionnaire Lingala - Français

une personne, homme, humain, individu

quelqu'un"

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The name originated from ancestral worshipping traditions in central African tribes, where the person is seen as divine or notorious, often depicted in an explicit manner. The spirit of the individual, which can be the founder of the tribe, a family member or even an animal, is still present within the object. Mutu also symbolises the purpose of ethnography, which are objects made by people, artists, sculptors, ... for people.

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Maximilian is active as an architectural engineer, a profession complementing his passion, helping him understand objects, their form and function. As the son of recognised art gallerists he has been surrounded by an incredible collection of art from a young age. Experiencing a broad range, from African ethnography to Flemish expressionism, his eye has been trained in order to distinguish quality from the rest. This knowledge is constantly being expanded by study of books and regular visits to art galleries, expositions and musea.

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"We offer unique objects that are carefully selected for experienced collectors as well as young novices that search to dive into the world of African ethnic art. The objects stand out for their quality and authenticity within an accessible context. With aesthetics as a prominent added value, Mutu intends to distinguish itself.

 

We love what we do and do it with passion."