Sérénade Enchantée: Mélodie du Refuge

For their solo exhibition at Kunsthall Oslo, artist Damien Ajavon developed an impressive tapestry exploring identity, memory and community. Ajavon weaves together personal archives, including images of their body, family and queerness, into a layered textile composition that serves as a vessel for stories and memories.

In the work, they combine Jacquard weaving with both computerised and hand embroidery, incorporating passementerie – decorative trimmings such as cords and tassels. These techniques create an expressive work rich in depth, shadow and details that invite repeated discovery. The tapestry brings together a wide variety of materials, each deliberately worked in a different way. Some sections are tightly and densely woven, while others are looser and more voluminous, creating a sense of relief. Together, these layers evoke the atmosphere of a mysterious garden: soft, lush and slightly enigmatic.

The work was developed for Kunsthall Oslo, where it was exhibited from 26 April to 8 June 2025. Since 10 October 2025, it has been on display at the TextielMuseum as part of the exhibition Haus of Fibre, running until 15 March 2026.

The work was acquired by the TextielMuseum and is now part of the museum’s permanent collection.