The Designers' Christmas Trees
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THE DESIGNERS’ CHRISTMAS TREES 4TH BELGIAN EDITION 1 IN SUPPORT OF LETTER FROM THE CHAIR, BIG AGAINST BREAST CANCER We would like to welcome you to this exquisite occasion of the 4th Belgian edition of The Designers’ Christmas Trees, where 14 internationally renowned artists and designers offer their “vision of the traditional Christmas tree” in support of BIG against breast cancer (BIG). This has become an unmissable annual event in Belgium, lighting up the social calendars of art and design enthusiastsLETTER from FROM across THE the CHAIR,country. BIG AGAINST BREAST CANCER WeThe wouldbeautiful like concept to welcome of The you Designers’ to this exquisite Christmas occasion Trees was of originally the 3rd Belgiancreated editionby Marie-Christiane of The Designers’ Marek Christmas in Paris. We Trees, would where like 16to internationally express our appreciation renowned for her continued support of the Belgian edition. artists and designers offer their “vision of the traditional Christmas tree” in supportThis event of creates BIG against a special breast link cancer between (BIG). artistic This innovation has become and an the unmissable innovation annualrequired event to progress in Belgium, in the lighting field of up breast the social cancer calendars research. ofWe, art at and BIG, design aim to enthusiastscombine science from and across technology the country. to innovate towards cures for breast cancer. In 2016, BIG was particularly proud to share the first results of an important research This year will mark the 20th anniversary of the event in Paris, originally programme named MINDACT: using a 70-gene signature (MammaPrint®), it is createdpossible by that Marie-Christiane up to 46% of patients Marek. Wewith would early-stage like to breastexpress cancer our appreciation who would forhave her received continued chemotherapy support of in the the Belgian past can edition. be spared from this treatment and its side-effects. Growing from strength-to-strength every year, the 2015 array of artists and The benefits of this event will go to our# AllStorks campaign in support of designers are of an excellent standard, with themes ranging from the empty the BIG Time for Baby clinical study, evaluating whether it is safe for women “after-scene”to interrupt their of Christmasendocrine therapyto festive to childhoodattempt pregnancy memories after with breast family. cancer. Specifically, the study hopes to determine whether treatment can be paused Thisfor up event to two creates years toa allowspecial for link conception between without artistic increasing innovation the and risk the of breastinno- vationcancer requiredrecurrence. to progress in the field of breast cancer research. We, at BIG,Everybody aim to knowscombine about science the legend and technology of the stork to delivering innovate towardsbabies to cures people’s for breasthouses. cancer. Just like them, everyone can now join the community of storks in this campaign and bring good luck... and hopefully lots of babies to women that are fighting the return of breast cancer. A heartfelt thank you to those who have offered their vision and creativity toA heartfeltthe 3rd Belgianthank you edition, to those as wellwho ashave the offered chefs and their partners, vision and and creativity to Cédric to Liénartthe 4th deBelgian Jeude edition, for his as central well as role the in chefs making and thispartners, evening and a torealisation. Cédric Liénart This eventde Jeude would for nothis centralexist without role in makingall of your this talent,evening time a realisation. and generosity. This event As eachwould unique not exist piece without will be all auctioned of your talent, in support time and of BIGgenerosity. against As breast each cancer, unique piece will be auctioned in support of BIG against breast cancer, we hope you we hope you appreciate the difference you are making in the lives of patients, appreciate the difference you are making in the lives of patients, as we do. as we do. Professor Martine J.J. PiccartPiccart Chair, BIG againstagainst breastbreast cancer cancer 5 BIG AGAINST BREAST CANCER ‘’BIG against breast cancer’’ is the name used for the public faceface of Breast International Group (BIG), for outreachoutreach andand fundraisingfundraising activities.activities. The BreastBreast InternationalInternational Group Group (BIG) (BIG) is anis internationalan international non-profit not-for-profit organi- organisationsation that represents that represents the largest the globallargest networkglobal networkof academic of academic research researchgroups dedicated groups dedicated to finding to newfinding ways new to treatways breastto treat cancer breast and cancer improve and improvethe lives ofthe breast lives ofcancer breast patients. cancer patients. With 56 member groups present in over 50 countries and across 6 continents, we connect more than 3.000 hospitals and 1.000s of doctors and researchers, and currently provide support forfor more than 30 clinical trials relatingrelating to YESTERDAY’S RESEARCH RESULTS IN finding aa curecure forfor breastbreast cancer. cancer. TODAY’S TREATMENTS AND At BIG, we believe that global collaboration is crucial to make significant advances in breast cancer research and enable collaboration of scientists across borders, contributing to the faster development of more advanced TOMORROW’S CURES treatments. In thethe past,past, breastbreast cancercancer researchresearch waswas highlyhighly fragmented,fragmented, with manymany research groups working in isolation on similar studies. In the mid-1990s, Dr. Martine Piccart and Dr. Aron Goldhirsch, two key players in the area who understood thethe power power of of collaboration, collaboration, joined joined together together to formto form what what is now is nowknown known as BIG as (BreastBIG (Breast International International Group). Group). Today BIGBIG is is a a network network of of research research groups groups and and their their experts experts are are committed committed to breastto breast cancer cancer research research and and improving improving breast breast cancer cancer treatments treatments worldwideworldwide – many practice-changing clinical studies can be accredited to the BIG network. 5 7 CONTENTS 01 ISABELLE LENFANT 02 WIM BRUYNOOGHE 03 GUY LECLEF 04 ANNEMIE VERBEKE 05 CLIO GOLDBRENNER 06 ALI MAHDAVI 07 ISABELLE DE BORCHGRAVE 08 JEAN-FRANÇOIS D’OR 09 ATELIER RELIEF 10 MARIE-JO LAFONTAINE 11 KRIS MARTIN 12 PHILIPPE GELUCK 13 POL QUADENS 14 FRED EERDEKENS Auction conducted by Cédric Liénart de Jeude Deputy Chairman Sotheby’s Belgium & Luxembourg 9 01 ISABELLE LENFANT Today ABOUT THE ARTIST A Brussels native, Isabelle Lenfant graduated magna cum laude from La Cambre Modes in 1995, destined to distinguish herself. Her calling was to dress the soul by means of the body, and so began her designing career as a textile stylist. She worked for several designer houses and for more commercial French labels, until the day fate intervened, creating links between her imagination and her know-how. After an artist’s ring was stolen from her mother, Isabelle wanted to replace the missing jewel. She met a jeweller who, faced with the precision of her demand, advised her to create it herself. The reconstruction, already. The pieces were falling into place, by osmosis. In the early 2000s, she designed the famous Band- Aid ring, symbolic pieces of her new career. Her artwork today includes rings, bracelets, earrings, chains, necklaces, pendants… evoking a memory, a presence, a sense of protection, forming a second skin. ABOUT THE PIECE The spirit of Christmas is really what made me want to create this piece. To me, its spirit is synonym of joy, love, sharing, laughing and celebrating good times… But what else is there in life? The question I asked myself is the following: What would you do every morning if you were to live in a place where the spirit of Christmas is omnipresent at all times and in all circumstances? The key is to live like if “today is the first day of the rest of your life”, just like in the wonderful song written by Etienne Daho (Aujourd’hui est le premier jour du reste de ta vie)… S’aimer et ainsi, pouvoir s’ouvrir à l’autre, Vivre aujourd’hui, le moment présent, Faire de sa vie un rêve et d’un rêve, une réalité. Never give up on the magic of Christmas, and never give up your dreams! Frédéric Berthet describes it in his “journal de trêve”: “Que faire de ma vie ? se demandait-il ? Et il répondait: y multiplier les moments où la question ne se pose pas.” DIMENSIONS 50 cm x 40 cm x 32 cm ISABELLE LENFANT 11 02 WIM BRUYNOOGHE ABOUT THE ARTIST Wim Bruynooghe is a Belgian designer, who graduated from the Antwerp Fashion Department. He launched his eponymous label in 2013 and opened his first Antwerp guerilla store shortly after. In 2016, Wim Bruynooghe was selected as one of the most promising young entrepreneurs of Europe by Forbes magazine. He has also been named artistic director of UCWHY, a new brand founded by Anne Chapelle, CEO of the Belgian fashion company BVBA 32. ABOUT THE PIECE “Looking through a child’s eyes may just be the most honest way to look at our tumultuous world.” While designing my piece, I thought of the way I would draw these elaborately decorated Christmas trees as a child. Our Christmas tree, which is actually a giant beanbag, captures this beautifully. At the same time, it quotes the elements that have been at the heart of the Wim Bruynooghe DNA since the very start: the diagonal decoupes that reference the ever-changing horizon of the North Sea, the play between structure and drape, the statement duchesse fabric in a sultry palette of red and black. DIMENSIONS 80 cm x 80 cm x 120 cm WIM BRUYNOOGHE 13 03 GUY LECLEF Papier ‘Brillant’ ABOUT THE ARTIST In his work, Guy Leclef always aims to find the essence, purity and simplicity of things. His signature eye for detail turns his art with paper into an experience.