12 may 2023, Flor Linckens
Craftsmanship and poetry in the work of Thomas Renwart
Until 28 May, BARBÉ in Ghent is presenting a solo exhibition by Thomas Renwart. The artist became known under the pseudonym Les Monseigneurs — initially in an artist duo with graphic designer Victor Verhelst — but since 2021, Renwart has been working under his given name.
Thomas Renwart's practice is characterised by a great love for craftsmanship, which he inherited in part from his family. In an interview with Belgian newspaper De Tijd, the artist mentions that he comes from a family of weavers and that his practice succeeds that of three generations of women in his family. Renwart specialises in a damask technique, but he also works with materials such as cotton, linen and raw flax. His practice includes a combination of manual work, digital techniques and machine work. To a large extent out of preference, but sometimes also due to necessity: during the pandemic, the Belgian weaving mills he likes to collaborate with were occasionally closed, as were the TextielLab of the TextielMuseum in Tilburg and TexLab Liège of Wallonie Design. At those times, the artist returned to smaller-scale techniques and handicrafts such as embroidery and quilting. The resulting works, that seem related to both tapestry and a painting, are often the result of an extremely labour-intensive process. For these works, Renwart embraces small imperfections and makes extensive use of residual yarn and residual material, in order to prevent waste.
Thomas Renwart, The day the heron took my prince away #3, 2023, BARBÉ
Visually, the poetic works refer to a multitude of subjects. Previous works were often inspired by the daffodil garden that is part of his studio, as well as his archive of dried plants and butterfly stamps. For these newer works, the artist found inspiration in the memories of his grandmother's garden, as well as the frustrations of dating today and country music from female artists like Shania Twain and Miranda Lambert — and by extension, the thriving queer scene in cities like Nashville, which offer an interesting contrast to the conservative values and rampant homophobia in these right-wing states. Many works exude a certain nostalgia and a longing for the uninhibited gaze and naivety of children. The chickens in his grandmother's house, but also herons and swans that seem to come straight from a fairytale book.
Renwart obtained a degree in textiles at the LUCA School of Arts and won two Henry Van De Velde Awards. The artist has exhibited his work during Dutch Design Week and the Triennale Milano, in Kunsthal Ghent and in Europe House in London, the latter at the invitation of the Belgian Embassy. In December 2023, Renwart's work will be shown in a solo exhibition at Kunsthalle Lisbon.
Thomas Renwart in Highway Vagabond, BARBÉ
