The story of the MAS is one long in the telling. It is a story of the city, its river and its connections with the world told through the medium of its various collections. However, it is also the story of creating a museum for the city and how that museum came into being. These books give a comprehensive explanation of its genesis, one that was not at all without obstacles set in its path.
Just as in the history of the city of Antwerp itself, the unfolding story of the MAS involved many chapters and a variety of protagonists. These people allow the story to be understood not only from a literary and artistic perspective but also from the standpoints of urban development, architecture, economics, politics and construction.
All of these protagonists contributed superior knowledge and expertise from their own fields. The greatest talents from a wide range of sectors worked together and learned from one another. Whether an alderman or window cleaner, everyone felt just as passionately and looked forward filled with anticipation to the next episode of this improbable tale.
The MAS was conceived as a tower of tales. Taking the polyphonic story of the MAS as its example, this book was conceived as a mosaic of voices. It is through these voices that the history of the museum's genesis is explained, however, this is only the first part of the story. Part two will examine the relocation, the collection and the concept underpinning the MAS.