LE PEUPLE, S’IL N’A PAS DE PAIN, QU’IL MANGE DE LA BRIOCHE!

For Peter Hellemons (Schiedam 1957) family and friends are the core of his existence. He is an artist in heart and soul, but also – and no less – a good cook. This he does not do professionally, but for those family and friends. He says: “Eating is a celebration and way of being together with friends, a connection between people.” “Le peuple, s´il n´a pas de pain, qu´il mange de la brioche!” (2021), a tablecloth measering 3,5x1,5m, made especially for the textile Biennial 2021. Once again the collaboration with the Textile Lab experts has produce dan exeptional piece, and his artistry has been merged with his love of cooking. The woven tablecloth shows Hellemons perspective on overproduction and excessive consumption. Cooking for loved ones and sharing food is all about the appreciation of food and togetherness. Yet this piece expressses an unceremonious approach to eating and the ineguality of food distribution in society. On the one hand, we are unable to see the value of food amid such opulence on the table. Its abundance and availability everywhere has even resulted in excessive waste: two-third of it gets wasted during transport, in shops, and in households. On the other hand, there is the irony of food banks with their steady increase of regulars. Overabundance and uneasiness come to mind. History seems to repeat itself again and again. The title of this work is also a subtle reference to this; eighteen-century French nobility was immortalized by Marie Antoinette who allegedly said: “Le peuple, s´il n´a pas de pain, qu´il mange de la brioche!”  Its´s doubtful whether she really spoke these words, but they perfectly capture a sense of excess not knowing what to do with it.