Blog post by Sydney Lussier

French artist Guillaume Leblon created his Chrysocale Double Bed (Contemporary, 2013) out of a mattress, sheets and a pillow completely covered in a woven copper, zinc and tin metal alloy that is a shiny golden color. The bed is positioned flat on the carpeted ground in a very light, open area; which creates a peaceful atmosphere. The light reflects of the shiny surface, creating intense contrast. The surface of the bed is indented, giving the feeling as if a body has been settled in it for long period of time, though there is only one impression of a body in a bed that can fit two. Leblon created the golden bed as a representation of a past relationship that has ended. Usually gold is a symbol of wealth or nobility, so encasing the bed in a woven golden alloy is signifying that the relationship meant something of a significant importance. The bed has the sense of preservation in the shiny golden color. The woven alloy has the feeling of being a blanket that is concealing the memory of the person who once there. Despite the simplicity of the bed, after having closer look the resemblance of an Egyptian sarcophagus becomes more prominent. Leblon used the idea of mummification in his creating of his Chrysocale Double Bed (2013). It was like he wanted to use the concept of mummification to conserve the emotions and memories in his bed. In the past royalty and people of power were usually the only ones to use a sarcophagus to encase the mummies as well as placed in a hidden tomb. Though Leblon mummified the bed, he did placed the bed in an open area, not shelter away from the world. He does not allow the memories or emotions to hidden from the viewer or the world as if a reminder of what once was with him. Leblon uses such a simplistic approach to successfully convey such emotion to this piece of art.

Guillaume Leblon, Chrysocale Double Bed (Contemporary, 2013, mattress, sheets, a pillow, woven copper, zinc, tin metal alloy), MassMoca, Closing April 6, 2014