Duos en Résonances

Duos en Résonances is an exhibition that aims to strengthen the dialogue between craft and design. 

From molded glass wafers to embroidery based on a computer-generated pattern. The exhibition Duos en Résonances features the work of 6 designers and 6 artisans.

Duos en Résonances is a project of Wallonie Design created in 2017, supported by the Sofina&Boël Fund for Training and Talent since 2020. For six months, six duos of craft artists and designers work on the development of a joint project or idea. The designer gets to work directly with an expert in materials and techniques. In turn, the artisan discovers a different approach or working method that challenges him to step outside his daily professional practice. From December 6 to February 22, the results of the six collaborations will be exhibited to the general public at MAD Brussels.

An exhibition with

• Julien Renault (product designer) & Angel Barrero (plasterer)
• Unfold (designers/researchers) & Frederik Rombach (glassblower)
• Gaston Golstein (industrial designer at Duplex Studio) & Étienne Guillaume (specialist in raw soil at Elementerre)
• Flora Miranda (fashion designer) & Kenny Damian (embroiderer)
• Frederik Delbart (industrial designer) & John Dierickx (stained glass at Studio Artglas)
• Alice Pilastre (textile designer) & Julien Moermans (tufter)

The six duos

After a call for applications, six duos were formed who would each embark on their own unique project. From glass wafers to a new lighting element to an experimental stool. The duo Angel Barrero and Julien Renault wanted to apply the technique of marble stucco to a free form. By departing from the habits imposed by technique and approaching the material in a rougher and more radical way, they offer a new view of a careful and meticulous practice that dates back to the 16th century. The collaboration between Kenny Damian and Flora Miranda highlights a form of interconnected duality between computer-generated pattern and hand-embroidery. In turn, Etienne Guillaume and Duplex Studio (Gaston Golstein) translated the pisé technique from construction to the production of an object. During the course of the project, they questioned the life cycle and the end of the useful life of a finished piece of raw earth.

The collaboration between Frederik Rombach and Unfold (Claire Warnier and Dries Verbruggen), is based on the symbolism of the Belgian waffle. By moulding waffles out of glass, they playfully demonstrate how they fit together and become connectors with other materials. Furthermore, the duo Julien Moermans and Alice Pilastre investigated the lifespan of tapestries and their materials. By omitting certain finishes and fraying the carpet, its structure will evolve through use and eventually disappear. Lastly, the duo John Dierickx and Frederik Delbart deconstruct the familiar traits of two-dimensional stained-glass and reimagine them as three-dimensional objects, uncovering new perspectives and surprising angles along the way.

SCENOGRAPHY

With the support of the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, the scenography of the exhibition is entrusted to Brussels-based design studio Studio Plastique. The scenography reflects the experimental nature of Duos en Résonances, showing not only the results but also the creative process behind them. It highlights the artists' gestures, interests, and the challenges they encountered, offering a deeper insight into the products they create. 

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Opening days and hours:

• The exhibition runs from Friday December 6 to Saturday February 22, 2025.

• Open from Wednesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• MAD Brussels will be closed from December 25 to January 1st 2025 

Price: A visit to the exhibition is free.

Address: MAD Brussels, Place du Nouveau Marché aux Grains 10 / Nieuwe Graanmarkt 10, 1000 Brussels