Next to their Sofa, Fien Muller and Hannes Van Severen display a selection of archival and newer pieces, such as their ‘alltubes’ series which focuses on cabinets, benches and chairs made of repetitive vertical aluminum tubes. “You can look at each series as a new chapter, and the ‘alltubes’ is our last chapter so far”, they explained. In the 1930s, Mallet-Stevens chose to showcase industrial materials and techniques. Today, his teachings have most certainly informed Muller Van Severen’s main focus: to enhance the natural beauty of their preferred materials – polyethylene, brass, steel, enamel or leather – which always come as the starting point of their designs. “It’s almost as if Mallet-Stevens had built a portrait of himself”, they observed, reflecting on the Villa. Just like him, Muller Van Severen give away a sense of their essence through their objects.
The “Design! Muller Van Severen at the Villa Cavrois” exhibition is on view at Villa Cavrois until November 1st, 2020.
MULLER VAN SEVEREN was founded in 2011 by Fien Muller and Hannes Van Severen. The couple, based in Evergem, Belgium, takes inspiration from art and architecture and develop furniture objects that show their deep appreciation of materials.