“BAMBOO” BENCH

"AFTER A SHORT CAREER AS AN ACTOR/DANCER IN THE THEATER PLAY THE POWER OF THEATRICAL MADNESS BY JAN FABRE, I WANTED TO LEARN HOW TO MAKE FURNITURE. I FIRSTLY STUDIED AT ARTS ET METIERS IN BRUSSELS , WOODWORKING SECTION. THEN, I ASSISTED A MASTER, RALF HILLENBRAND, WHO FINISHED MY LEARNING OF TECHNIQUES. AFTER THREE YEARS, I WAS READY TO WORK AS AN INDEPENDENT CABINET MAKER/DESIGNER, A CAREER THAT LASTED 25 YEARS.

IN 2003, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE PIERRE BERGÉ BRUSSELS AUCTION HOUSE, I ORGANIZED THE AUCTION OF PROTOTYPES OF OTHER DESIGNERS.

IN 2006, I CREATED D&A LAB, A COMPANY PRODUCING LIMITED SERIES OF FUNCTIONAL OBJECTS, IMAGINED BY CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS LIKE JONATHAN MONK, PIERRE BISMUTH, ANN VERONICA JANSSENS, KOEN VAN DEN BROEK, AND MANY OTHERS. WE WERE SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MIAMI DESIGN FAIRS, DESIGN BASEL, FORM LONDON, ETC.

IN 2012, I WAS ASKED AS PRODUCTION DIRECTOR AT THE FOUNDATION DES GALERIES LAFAYETTE IN PARIS, WHICH LEADED ME TO COLLABORATE WITH ARTISTS SUCH AS LUTZ BACHER, HELLA JONGERIUS, KATINKA BOCK, TARIK KISWANSON, AND MARTIN MARGIELA.

IN 2020, LIKE SO MANY OTHERS, THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS MADE ME RECONSIDERATE MY LIFE CHOICES. MY FAMILY AND I DECIDED TO LEAVE THE CITY TO MOVE TO THE FRENCH COUNTRYSIDE WHERE I WANTED TO RETURN TO MY OLD LOVES AS A FURNITURE DESIGNER."