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Muller Van Severen Explores the Synergy Between Art and Function

11.27.24 | By
Muller Van Severen Explores the Synergy Between Art and Function

Muller Van Severen has spent the last 15 years masterfully blurring the lines between art and design, and their latest exhibition, Frames, at the Tim Van Laere Gallery in Antwerp, Belgium, takes this exploration to new heights. The exhibition, their first solo show at the gallery, is an immersive experience that challenges our understanding of space, functionality, and sculpture. Featuring over 30 works, each unique in its form and approach, the show continues Muller Van Severen’s investigation into the intersection of sculpture and functional object.

Art gallery with abstract geometric sculptures and wall-mounted pieces in various colors, displayed in a spacious room with wooden floors and white walls

A modern art gallery with colorful geometric sculptures and wall art, featuring red, blue, and green shapes on wooden flooring

At the heart of Frames is a process Muller Van Severen has reined over time. The duo, comprising Fien Muller and Hannes Van Severen, begins with a single plate, using minimal intervention – cutting, folding, and opening the material – to create depth and dimension. The result is a collection of pieces that transition between abstraction and figuration, merging sculptural expression with usability. While the works can be appreciated as art objects, they are designed to be used, transforming the way we interact with the objects around us and the spaces we inhabit.

Gallery interior with modern art pieces mounted on a white wall, featuring geometric shapes in red, green, black, and white. Wood flooring and overhead lighting are visible

A gallery wall displaying abstract geometric light sculptures in various shapes and colors

Art installation with geometric shapes mounted on a white wall

The architectural inspiration behind these pieces is clear, with references to geometric forms and bold visual vocabularies reminiscent of the Suprematists, pioneers of the early 20th-century art movement focused on the fundamentals of geometry. Works like Frame #17 and Frame #20 nod to Russian artist Kazimir Malevich’s 1915 Suprematist installation, The Last Futurist Exhibition of Paintings 0.10. Muller Van Severen takes it a step further, crafting forms that are not just to be viewed but to be lived with – a continuation of Austrian artist Franz West’s vision of furniture as art.

Geometric art installation in a gallery with colorful shapes and mirrored surfaces on a wooden floor

Modern art gallery with geometric sculptures and installations in red, blue, and black on wood flooring and white walls

Muller Van Severen shows us that objects, particularly functional objects, can elevate and shape our experiences of space. By breaking down the boundaries between art and design, the designers make art and functional design virtually indistinguishable, encouraging us to integrate these pieces into our daily lives to make art a lived experience rather than a distant object to admire.

An art gallery room with modern sculptures featuring curved panels in burgundy and beige, placed on a wooden floor

Minimalist concrete courtyard with three colorful, abstract benches in red, yellow, and white. A modern building is visible in the background

Concrete courtyard with two minimalist, curved benches in yellow and red, set against a modern, industrial backdrop

Two people in a room with geometric wall art. One is seated on a chair beside green artwork, and the other stands near red artwork. The floor is wooden, and the background is a plain wall

Muller Van Severen

​For more information on Muller Van Severen’s exhibition Frames, visit timvanlaeregallery.com.​

Photography courtesy of Tim Van Laere Gallery, Antwerp-Rome.

As the Senior Contributing Editor, Vy Yang is obsessed with discovering ways to live well + with intention through design. She's probably sharing what she finds over on Instagram stories. You can also find her at vytranyang.com.