OTEGEM, BELGIUM.- Mark Deweer, founder of both DEWEER gallery and a carpet factory, merged the two passions that defined his life and created ʻArt of the Loomʼ, a stunning collection of 32 exclusive tapestries designed by 14 internationally acclaimed artists.

The concept of this show aims at more than just the display of the entire collection. It puts the ʻArt of the Loomʼ project into perspective. The carpets are shown in relationship with new and rarely shown works of art by all artists who were crucial to the ʻArt of the Loomʼ project and to the galleryʼs intriguing history.

The exhibition concept is quite experimental. With diverse aspects of homeliness as a starting point, a context is created in which the ʻArt of the Loomʼ tapestries function as associative elements, works of art and objects at the same time. The show consists of 15 more or less autonomous installations, which are treated not only as curated entities but also as exercises or proposals. Nothing in the exhibition is fixed: objects and tapestries are assembled into temporary, improvised constructions.

Another important feature of the show, which is related to all of this, is the use of chairs as a form of physical support instead of the usual socles. We do not have socles at home, but we do have chairs. Two models of chairs, the ʻPlayʼ and the ʻMosquitoʼ by Belgian designers Alain Berteau and Michael Bihain respectively, are used in all thinkable ways. A total number of around 60 of them can be found throughout the show, laying or standing. Both models were produced by the Belgian label ʻWildspiritʼ.

With carpets and art works by Stephan Balkenhol, Sergey Bratkov, Tony Cragg, Jan De Cock, Stefaan Dheedene, Jan Fabre, Günther Förg, Ilya & Emilia Kabakov, Thomas Lange, Matthieu Laurette, Josef Felix Müller, Panamarenko, Koen Vanmechelen, Anne-Mie Van Kerckhoven, and others.