Léonard von Muralt @ Espace CHUV - Lausanne

Léonard von Muralt is part of the ‘Talisman’ exhibition at the Espace CHUV in Lausanne.

Like talismans imbued with invisible forces, the works in this exhibition seem to reveal a shared desire for meaning or protection.

Léonard von Muralt revisits an everyday object and proposes a new way of looking at it, particularly in terms of its social and cultural dimensions.

Lumiar, a used chopping board that has been diverted from its original function, becomes a unique and intimate archive. Although it reveals little about its past, it evokes everyday moments: preparing and eating food - convivial or solitary moments. Gold reveals wear and tear, marks that also tell of a certain violence. In terms of art history, the precious metal is reminiscent of Russian icons, paintings on wood depicting holy figures from Orthodox Christianity. If this cutting board evokes bread, then bread in Christian culture, in the same way as gold, evokes the divine.

Lumiar, 2022, wood and gold, 35 x 20 x 20 cm