Écritoire I (schrijfgestoelte)

Description

This work by the Belgian artist Thierry De Cordier is a writer’s chair made of metal, wood and gauze. The metal base consists of two vertical tubes in which there are two wooden posts interconnected with a few slats. The wooden construction is wrapped in cotton gauze and then painted black. There is a horizontal plank on one post which serves as a seat, while on the other post there is a plank attached diagonally as a lectern. It has a baby parasol and there is an inkwell hanging from it.

Thierry De Cordier leads a withdrawn existence, deliberately withdrawing from society as much as possible because he considers it to be superficial and not aimed at the essential values of existence. He wants to live as closely as possible to nature and attaches great value to the contact with the earth and the seasons. For his work he often uses natural materials which he finds in his own environment such as earth and ash. The search for the true values of life is the basis of De Cordier’s work; he is not looking at the future full of expectation but rather looks backward. He does not have a ready-made answer or theory about exactly how the world should be, but considers it his task as an artist to undertake action to spur the public on to reflect about life.

'Écritoire I (writer’s chair)' can be used to write at, but the object is more of a symbolic place to write than a real place and it does not look like a stable construction. Many of De Cordier’s works have an imperfect quality. This corresponds to his view that everything human is characterized by incompleteness and imperfection. He does not announce any absolute truths, but acts as a sort of example. Everyone should arrive at a meaningful relationship with their own life, that of others and the whole of nature in their own way.

Does this page contain inaccurate information or language that you feel we should improve or change? We would like to hear from you.