MEM Brussels

About the museum

In a charming XVIIIth century house, at the Sablon, you will discover the fantastic history of Erotic art from Antiquity until today.

This private collection, one of the most attractive in Europe, offers you the chance to see some rare pieces of paintings, sculptures, Greco-roman antiquities, ivories, japanese prints and other curiosities.

Mythology and Eroticism are deeply linked: "Eroticism" comes from "eros", the Ancient Greek word for "love" or "desire", personified by the God Eros, son of Hermes and Aphrodite, representing the desire that reunites and creates the worlds.

The purpose of this museum is to show the existence of the eroticism since the sexual pleasure has been discovered by humanity.

History

The museum has been created by Dr. Guy Martens in March 2012 and is the result of his lifelong passion for erotic art. As a Doctor’s son and grandson, he has naturally decided to follow the same way in addition to studies in history of art and antiquities.

At the age of 17, he started his collection with the acquisition of small ivories pieces called “Netsuke”. Since then, he has gathered many other pieces of all kinds and periods of time.

After having acquired more than 800 art pieces, he came up with the amazing idea to expose this beautiful private collection to the public.