Tafel voor de ridders van
wanhoop “VERZET”

Fused glass with blue
enamelled glass on the surface
Table size: 4 m x 1 m

Jan Fabre

In 1987, Jan Fabre created the first model of the ―VERZET‖ Table for the Knights of Despair on a scale of 1:20.
We had to wait until 2006, when D&A Lab was able to offer a solution to produce a life-size model of this work.
The result is impressive! Made out of glass and weighing about 600 kg, this table occupies the space just like a monumental sculpture. In the middle of the table, we can read the word “verzet” through a cut in the
glass. The form of a bird of prey‟s talon, symbolizing power, has also been cut out in the seat of the chairs.
The person sitting in the chair is literally sitting on power, and is actually muzzling it through this action.
In this particular case, the artist‟s concept is omnipresent and the table and chairs can be used as such. We are continuously reminded of the artist‟s presence by the word “verzet” in the centre of the table, which means
“resistance”.
Specifically for the “VERZET” table and its eight chairs, also made out of glass, D&A Lab and Jan Fabre were looking for an alternative to the “Bic” blue in order to retain the functional surface. At last, D&A Lab discovered Fenestra Ateliers, the ideal partner to produce this work of art.
New techniques were developed in collaboration with the artist. Each element of glass was shaped with the fingers by hands dipped in blue oil, before being placed in a furnace for a week in order to fuse and thus achieve the final appearance. The different parts of the glass furniture are not stucktogether but welded /fused, hence the specific texture on the surface.

ABOUT

Born 1958 in Antwerp
Lives and works in Antwerp

He is an artist, man of the theatre and author.