Chatty clothes
Exhibition from 28 June to 28 September 2025
Mahjoub Ben Bella (1946 – 2020), an artist whose work covers multiple disciplines, set up his base in Tourcoing, a city he loved so much and whose classrooms at the School of Fine Arts he had frequented as a young student. His works have emerged from the fusion of two cultures, namely that of the North of France, a homeland that was the point of departure for his creations, and that of his native Algeria, embodied by Arabic calligraphy. This signature motif can be seen elegantly arrayed across his paintings until it completely covers the surface.
The versatility and curiosity of this artist led him to explore other media, opening up his texts to new worlds and volumes. His collaboration with the famous Roubaix-based mail order company, La Redoute, opened up new avenues for his writing, taking him on a journey from the canvas of his paintings to that of the dresses and shirts designed by the Belgian designer, Souad Feriani.
This approach is not at all unheard of in the history of fashion and tailoring. Clothing has been a great surface for embroidering, ironing on, printing or even painting words over the centuries and as textile techniques have developed over time.
Bearing a message like a blank page ready to receive the words of the poet and publicist, the garment is adorned with words which decorate, define, suggest and proclaim. The museum’s cabins are used as an auditorium for the summer, exhibiting these silent objects that nevertheless have something to say.
This exhibition is presented in the spaces dedicated to the permanent collections, with free admission on every first Sunday of the month.
Scientific curator and management: Amélie Boron, head of the fashion collection, La Piscine – André Diligent museum of art and industry.
Caption: Souad Feriani and Mahjoub Ben Bella for La Redoute, Shirt dress, 2004, printed cotton poplin, plastic buttons. La Piscine – André Diligent museum of art and industry. Donation from the creator in 2004. © ADAGP, Paris, 2024 Photo: Joëlle Rousseau.
Preview on Friday 27 June 2025 from 6pm.
