MoMu Talk: Peter Adriaenssens & Kristien Dirkx

To coincide with the exhibition GIRLS. On Boredom, Rebellion and Being In-Between, MoMu invites you to an inspiring conversation between psychiatrist Peter Adriaenssens and artist Kristien Dirkx.

Peter Adriaenssens is a child and trauma psychiatrist. He served as head of clinic and lecturer in child psychiatry at KU Leuven, and for 35 years led the Familiarity Center Child Abuse. Today, he continues to work on a smaller scale, focusing on child poverty, allowing him to stay closely connected to the experiences of young people and to advise parents from lived expertise. His new book, De flexgeneratie, will be published in October.

Kristien Dirkx is a multidisciplinary artist whose work Adriaenssens first encountered in a professional setting, where it has since found a meaningful place. He is drawn to the traces of time and the sense of movement in her work, qualities that resonate with those seeking strength to rise from a past marked by scars.

Together, Peter and Kristien explore the vital role of creativity, art, music, dance and expression in the development of children and adolescents. They advocate for accessible arts education for all, grounded in a deep understanding of the young brain and its role in shaping creative processes. Art and creativity offer unique pathways for healing and recovery from trauma.

During this MoMu Talk, they will engage in dialogue with each other and the audience, reflecting on how art communicates with its viewers. They will discuss their own work, how artists interpret the world around them, the challenges that come with it and the responses their work can evoke.

Image: Harley Weir, i love you as a friend, 2025, courtesy the artist and Hannah Barry Gallery, London Photo © Damian Griffiths