Schutzmäntel (protective coats)

Laurence Aëgerter produced three Schutzmäntel for her solo exhibition at the Musée du Petit Palais, Paris. The textile cover three sculptures chosen by the artist for their vulnerable aspect: Petite Fille pleurant (Weeping Girl) by Bartholomé, Premières Funérailles (The First Funeral) by Barrias, Bacchante couchée (Reclining Bacchante) by Clésinger. These veils refer for Aëgerter to the mantle worn by the Virgin of Mercy and used to protect the humble and the weak. Symbolic motifs from different cultures and eras, evoking protection, strength and hope, are present in the fabric weave. Some are invisible to the naked eye but permeate the textile with their energy.

This work was made on the occasion of the exhibition ‘Ici mieux qu’en face’ at the Musée du Petit Palais in Paris, in 2020-2021.
You can watch here a 10 min film, in which the artist and the curators talk about their favorite work.