Fernando Marques Penteado presents "Tender, Trivial, Totemic Table Talks" at Nw, Aalst

NW, Open House for Contemporary Art and Film, is hosting Brazilian artist Fernando Marques Penteado’s exhibition Tender, Trivial, Totemic Table Talks until September 28, 2025. 

 Exhibition Concept 

Penteado creates a space where social rituals materialize through installations featuring: 

1. Recovered tables sourced from thrift stores in Aalst. 

2. Totemic sculptures layered with snacks prepared by local communities. 

3. Textiles and discarded objects engaging with the venue’s history as a former passementerie (ornamental embroidery workshop). 

Core Themes 

- Politics of hospitality: Reflection on the value of community labor. 

- Invisible economies: Recognition of informal exchanges in cultural creation. 

- Inclusion: Expansion of audiences traditionally excluded from the art world. 

- Blurring boundaries: Critique of distinctions between art and daily life. 

 Spatial Context 

The choice of a former passementerie emphasizes: 

- Exploration of verticality and structured forms. 

- Transformation of decorative elements into politically charged installations. 

- A challenge to cultural hierarchies marginalizing craftsmanship. 

 Aesthetic and Conceptual Impact 

The works: 

- Mobilize narratives through color, texture, and patterns. 

- Invite contemplation of contemporary emotional and political dimensions. 

- Reinterpret the trivial to disrupt cultural codes of taste and value. 

PRACTICAL INFORMATION 

📍 Venue: NW, Houtkaai 15, Aalst (Belgium) 

📅 Duration: Until September 28, 2025 

On the cover: Fernando Marques Penteado, Jantar servido 01, 2017, print on jeans, braids, machine, and hand embroidery, 67 x 81 cm/ Mendes Wood DM