Egon Van Herreweghe's 'The Menu' Transforms Storefront Awnings into Sculpture at Footnote Gallery
Egon Van Herreweghe, a multidisciplinary artist, has launched 'The Menu' at Footnote Gallery in Ghent, Belgium. This exhibition showcases four sculptures of storefront awnings, each representing a restaurant from Greece, China, Italy, and France. It delves into the way culture is distilled into familiar symbols. In his statement, Van Herreweghe emphasizes his involvement with visual and material culture, utilizing retail tactics to question notions of authenticity. He describes awnings as a fusion of architecture, advertising, and decoration. The pieces, named 'Gelateria,' 'Le Bistrot,' 'Chinese Restaurant,' and 'Greece,' are dated 2026. Van Herreweghe intends for the audience to experience both familiarity and alienation, prompting reflection on conveyed information. The exhibition is documented by Thomas Min.
Key facts
- Egon Van Herreweghe's solo show 'The Menu' is on view at Footnote Gallery in Ghent, Belgium.
- The exhibition features four storefront awning sculptures representing restaurants from Greece, China, Italy, and France.
- The works are titled 'Gelateria,' 'Le Bistrot,' 'Chinese Restaurant,' and 'Greece,' all dated 2026.
- Van Herreweghe's practice engages with the visual and material culture of commerce, using sculpture, photography, and installation.
- The artist deliberately sought visual clichés to show how culture can be condensed into a few signs and consumed.
- Fabrication involved watercolors, a welder for metal frames, sourced fabrics, a seamstress, and hand-painted text by his partner.
- The show is presented in a white room with four sculptures installed on the walls.
- Photographs of the exhibition and production were taken by Thomas Min.
Entities
Artists
- Egon Van Herreweghe
- Thomas Min
Institutions
- Footnote Gallery
- PRINT Magazine
Locations
- Ghent
- Belgium
- Greece
- China
- Italy
- France