sofie lachaert and luc d’hanis install tranches de vie at grand hornu

sofie lachaert and luc d’hanis install tranches de vie at grand hornu
‘bacteria’ tiles made in collaboration with lea ceramiche, and sink realized with the help of the ceramist f. ottink; ‘woven kimono & embroidered towel’ made in collaboration with verilin; pyrite and brass ‘hook’
picture by jean godecharle

tranches de vie by sofie lachaert and luc d’hanis
grand hornu, belgium
27 april – 17 august 2014

for artist duo, sofie lachaert and luc d’hanis, life and work are inextricably intertwined. they have been collaborating now for over 20 years on an intriguing oeuvre involving objects, furniture and situation-oriented installations whereby the boundaries between applied art, craft and design are both questioned and crossed. each project is a joint endeavor; each work the result of the symbiosis between these two designers. ‘tranches de vie’, presented at the grand hornu in belgium brings the outside context into the museum. a street, ‘a terrace of workers’ houses referring to the hornu mine complex, is reconstructed inside the ‘magasin aux foins’ exhibition hall. the environment is, as it were, the true subject of the show, the scenography, and a work in itself. 

‘duo bergère’ armchair and ‘vanitias’ candle holders
picture by jean godecharle

with subtle interventions, mundane objects are enhanced with a new experience and a layer of meanings. often conceptual, or with reference to fine art, each work can be interpreted at various depths, and can be viewed and scrutinised with different gazes. meanings and functions are displaced; the senses are stimulated; unexpected beauty is exposed. with their work, ‘slld’ brought captivating moments of wonder, reflection and poetic experience into everyday life. this is also true in ‘tranches de vie’.

the cement tiles are made in collaboration with de tegel BV
picture by jean godecharle

in this exhibition, the visitor wanders around the street at dusk, the time of the day when silence falls. here and there light shines in the terrace. curiosity and imagination are roused. one looks through the window, and notices unexpected images.

‘trestle table’ made from 6,850 parts of oak in collaboration with casimir ‘carbonium’ writing object made in graphite, drawing book and hand-drawn wallpaper set on
picture by jean godecharle

each viewing room displays an object or a series thereof with its relative intimacy and its own particular environment. these are subtle presentations whereby each work is placed in a specific context, and the visitor is automatically compelled to look at things more attentively. it is then that the other, more profound layers of meaning of the work are revealed.

‘painters palette’ hand-tufted rug shown with ‘precious step stool’ painted and incrusted with precious stones, and ‘weeping’ palettes, paint and 18 carat gold
picture by jean godecharle

‘shards collection’ porcelain service and recycled glass sits above ‘aphrodisiac’ ceramic floor tiles made in collaboration with lea ceramiche
picture by jean godecharle

‘water for two’ bohemian crystal objects and ‘marcell’ silver cages
picture by jean godecharle

‘money’s worth’ bed linen in woven fabric made in collaboration with verilin, ‘changed values’ candelabra made with precious and non-precious coins
picture by jean godecharle

‘almost red’ silk rug made in collaboration with NODUS, and wooden chirs ‘crossed legs, two in one, one for two’ and ‘pas de deux’
picture by jean godecharle

‘ephemeral wardrobe’ and ‘ephemeral chair’ made in wood, and hanging porcelain ‘ephemeral vase’ made in collaboration with frans ottink
picture by jean godecharle

portrait of the arists
photo by karlijn nijs

‘tranches de vie’ by sofie lachaert & luc d’hanis
picture by jean godecharle

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.