The encounter between Swedish-Iraqi designer Sizar Alexis and the Belgian textile designer Nathalie Van der Massen has led not only to an original exhibition but also to a duo work, a unique and experimental creation. This unexpected alchemy has been orchestrated by the Belgian gallery Atelier Ecru, founded by Stéphanie Frederickx and Christophe Urbain in Ghent, specialized in contemporary, brutalist and modern art and furnishings. The space hosts the exhibition “commonIunIcommon” which brings together works made for the occasion by the two artists, as well as some earlier pieces.
Distant in terms of background but similar in their approach, the two creative talents have interacted on the common ground of research on materials.
The expertise of Van der Massen focuses mainly on the world of textiles – natural fibers, but also new materials like technical weaves, recycled cords, cotton, rope and polyester fiber – playing with colors (hard and soft) and weaves (matte and glossy). Alexis creates furnishings inspired by brutalism, combining the cultural influences of ancient Mesopotamia with the principles of functional simplicity of Scandinavian design.
Tactile effects, geometry, but above all heritage and craftsmanship create a link between experiences and then between the creations of the two artists in the show. In an ongoing dialogue of sensorial interaction. The collaboration has reached a new high point in the joint creation of a work, a modern throne that links back to those of ancient Mesopotamia. The design of the piece draws on the Ousia collection by Sizar Alexis and his sister (composed of a chair and a stool); the chair is covered with a textile work by Van der Massen, as a sort of armor. The result is a piece that is full of contradictions: white and black, sculptural but fragile, where material becomes the key of interpretation.
Atelier Ecru Gallery
“commonIunIcommon” by Nathalie Van der Massen & Sizar Alexis
From 05.11.2022 to 08.01.2023
