Interview Thierry Backeljau

Why is the shell hall worth the detour?
For many reasons! The collection is one of the richest on earth: most pieces have been bought, but some originate from our scientific explorations. The numerous specimens in the hall are only a small part of the contents of the repositories. And enjoy the genuine corals, collected by our scientists in Papua New Guinea.

How was the shell hall designed?
The hall is created by traditional methods. We wanted to surprise the visitors. That is why the Museum’s scientists and gifted artists played a game with the specimens and their characteristics. For that matter, if you look at the scallops in their showcase, you’ll see that their arrangement and their colours catch the eye. They’re in accordance with the tints and lines of force of a very famous painting: Géricault's "Raft of the Medusa"!

If you had to pick out one piece in this hall…
Personally, I’d choose the terrestrial mollusks. They’re exceptional animals, not only because of their enormous diversity in form and colour, but also because of their passionate sex life! Many people love the coloured scallops and the aquariums, but experts and collectors are more attracted by rare pieces, such as the carnivorous poisonous cone shell snails, some of which are lethal to humans.