The third episode in the series Unfolding the Archives shines the spotlight on interior architects Bataille & ibens. The exhibition takes ‘detail’ as its starting point and, in so doing, offers a new perspective on the oeuvre of the famous designer duo.
Bataille & ibens archive
Interior architects Claire Bataille (b.1940) and Paul ibens (1939-2020) belong to one of the first generations to shape the discipline of interior architecture in Belgium. They placed the importance of interior design on the map. Their work became an example of best practice and a reference point for students and colleagues. The Bataille & ibens oeuvre, which spans almost six decades, testifies to an extremely diverse and wide-ranging practice. It encompasses designs for homes, interiors, furniture and objects. A selection of works from the Bataille & ibens archive, ranging from plans, drawings and photographs, to furniture and objects, illustrates this rich oeuvre. Key aspects such as detail, intersections, proportions and materialisation all play a crucial role in their nuanced design approach.
Download the exhibition guide
Invisible present
Bataille & ibens’ design practice is characterised by the search for what can be described as ‘the invisible present’. For Bataille & ibens, the strength of the intervention lies in the balance between the existing and the transformation. The result is experienced as self-evident, as though it has always been present. Despite this pursuit of the invisible – which balances on the interface between late modernism, postmodernism and minimalism – they developed a signature all their own. Their design interventions, regardless of size and scale, were always developed from a thoughtful detailing. Unfolding the Archives #3 takes ‘detail’ as its starting point in order to open up a new perspective on Bataille & ibens’ oeuvre.
Collection
The Flanders Architecture Institute acquired the entire Bataille & ibens archive in 2012. A selection of documents provides an initial glimpse of this fascinating and diverse collection.
to the collection
Opening
On 19 May, VAi is organising an online opening event for the exhibition Unfolding the Archives #3 Bataille & ibens. Curator Eva Storgaard will be in conversation with Claire Bataille, Marc Dubois and former colleagues from B&i.
more informationPractical
- DATE:
20.05.2021-26.09.2021
- OPEN:
From Wednesday to Sunday - 02:00 pm until 7:00 pm and during evening performances until 10:00 pm
- ADMISSION:
free
- ACCESSIBILITY:
not wheelchair accessible
- LOCATION:
De Singel (Expo)
- STREET:
Desguinlei 25
- POSTAL CODE:
2018
- CITY:
Antwerp
- PRODUCER:
Flanders Architecture Institute and De Singel
- CURATOR:
Eva Storgaard
To make your visit as safe as possible, you must respect the following measures:
* Face masks are mandatory in all public areas of De Singel
* Keep 1.5m away from other visitors at all times
* Payments at the book counter are only done electronically
* Individual online registration for exhibitions in the Expo is mandatory (max. 20 people per time slot)
Unfolding the Archives
In the Unfolding the Archives series, the Flanders Architecture Institute exhibits major pieces, hidden treasures and striking discoveries from its collection. It enriches contemporary architectural themes with a historical dimension, shows newly acquired archives to visitors for the first time, or elucidates prominent figures or moments from architectural history.