Belgium – The Textile Design of Chevalier Masson at CID

Lichtbed, Chevalier Masson in collaboration with 51n4e and Julie Vandenbroucke, in the context of the exhibition Reasons for Walling a House, 2012, Courtesy Galerie Valerie Traan, Anvers. Credit: Filip Dujardin

Belgium | The textile design of Chevalier Masson at CID

In its most common meaning, the term design refers to specific families of objects conceived by – more or less famous – authors: furniture, light fixtures, electronic devices, cars, and even dresses, and fashion accessories.
The same word is rarely used when we speak of textiles and, despite the seminal work by pioneering textile designers of the past – like Anni Albers and Gunta Stölzl – for a long time most design critics have paid scarce attention to this matter, often downgrading everything made in fabric to “ornament”.
Nevertheless, in the last years, the success of independent design has largely changed the situation and raised the attention of media, critics, and buyers for self-produced design and applied arts, reassessing the value of manual skills and craft know-how.

Exhibition ” Des chose à faire.Chevalier Masson”, installation view. © CID – Grand-Hornu – Photo David Marchal.

The exhibition “ Des chose à faire. Chevalier Masson“ (Things to do), on view now at the CID – Centre d’Innovation et de design au Grand-Hornu – in Belgium, focuses precisely on this theme by presenting the 10-year-long work by textile designers Anne Masson and Eric Chevalier.

Motion, blanket,100% wool, in collaboration with Diane Steverlynck for the Laend, 2014 © Lise Duclaux.

Motion, Wool blanket, designed in collaboration with Diane Steverlynck for the Laend, photo © Lise Duclaux

Scarves, collection 2009-2010, photo © Lise Duclaux

The Belgian duo has always pursued a personal vision, which refuses both an utmost adoption of unusual or hyper-technological materials and the vapid aestheticism so common in fashion and design fairs, and prefers a poetic and expressive approach to textile design, instead.
The passion for “doing things”, evoked by the title of the exhibition, clearly emerges from the many objects on view, which also express the multidisciplinary approach of Chevalier Masson, developed through collaborations with architects and choreographers, ranging from home furniture and accessories to art installations and stage costumes.

Chevalier Masson. Des chose à faire
(temporary exhibition)
CID – Grand Hornu
until January 10, 2016
http://www.cid-grand-hornu.be/

Chevalier Masson, 2012-13 collection, photo © Filip Vanzieleghem

Chevalier Masson, Igor, coat rack, polypropylene and stainless steel, 2012, designed in collaboration with Diane Steverlynck, photo © Maud Van De Veire

Chevalier Masson, Tank top, cotton stitch, soy, designed for  MONO, ballet for 8 dancers by Thomas Hauert-ZOO, 2013, photo © Christian Aschman.