As part of Brussels Design September 2024.

The Victor Horta Museum in Brussels, itself beautiful and worth a visit, continues its successful collaboration with artists and designers in Belgium. From 12 September, there is another reason to come to rue Américaine 27. In 2024, the Museum has invited 5 young artists to decorate it with velvet. The exhibition “Smooth as velvet” harmonised with the perfect interiors for which the great architect created both curtains and fabric wallpaper, as the Art Nouveau style is total and does not tolerate variation. We would say today that the House created by Horta for his family is a showroom of his architectural ideas. In this project, it has also become an experimental laboratory for young designers.

Sisters Flore and Pauline Fockedey, true Brusselsers, work with textiles and have decorated one of the rooms with a panel in delicate lettuce colours, a reference to the museum’s elegant chip. Anyone who frequents the Victor Horta Museum knows that the ‘seating furniture’ instead of the crude warning ‘ne pas toucher’, the chairs and armchairs are delicately covered with tiny, delicate seashells. The sisters have created a textile canvas upholstery for the room with these recognisable magnified in size, sea creatures. Pauline represented Belgium at the Venice Biennale in 2024 and there is an interview with her at the Belgian Pavilion on my website www.artreporter.be.

The second project that struck us was created by textile artist Louisa Carmona. She worked on the kitchen and utility spaces. Tablecloths, kitchen towels, all the textiles that accompany meals and add to the aesthetics of a mansion, especially a wealthy one. Linen tablecloths in the cupboard, neatly stacked, kitchen towels hanging on hooks are pleasing to the eye. The cosy household is artistically emphasised by the linen vases – plump and elongated – Louise’s works of art. An unexpected use of textiles and so effective in the exquisite Art Nouveau kitchen of the House!