Spell Blanket: Opening Reception

UNESCO Creative City of Design Kortrijk presents Spell Blanket by Emma Cogné, a series of textile works that explore the blanket as both a nomadic and narrative object, an intimate refuge that protects, warms and accompanies. Based on a personal collection of objects, household appliances, and discreet tools from the textile industry, Emma composes images in which the ordinary is charged with strangeness and illusion. These fragments unfold into all-over patterns whose repetition narrates everyday situations, littered with clues. The pieces combine textures, reliefs, and colors reminiscent of the layered history of velvet and brocade in early Dutch painting.

The exhibition is on view at and coincides with the opening of LOLO'S HOUSE, a custom upholstery studio and art gallery dedicated to the decorative interior arts. Alongside Spell Blanket, LOLO'S HOUSE will present collaborative studio craft furniture created with local artists, establishing a dialogue between contemporary textile practice, craftsmanship, and interior design. Spell Blanket is a result of Tex Design, a Belgian initiative of Fedustria and Designregio Kortrijk that brings together Belgian textile companies and young creative talents.

The project aims to stimulate the textile sector to think more creatively, innovatively, and internationally. By collaborating on experimental installations and innovative applications, companies discover new market opportunities and strengthen their image as a future-oriented manufacturing industry. Spell Blanket was realized with the support of Aarova and POM West Flanders, in collaboration with the textile companies Tessutica, Deltracon, De Poortere Frères, B&T Textilia and Van Neder.

UN SUSTAINABILITY GOALS

We use Detroit's UNESCO City of Design designation as a call to action for Detroiters to embrace the Sustainable Development Goals in their own communities, contributing to the active effort of solving global interconnected issues.