Houten lijst met tien onderscheidingen van Tonny van Renterghem c. 1945 - 1999

This wooden frame with ten awards belonging to Tonny van Renterghem is a found object, remade as an artwork. The awards, arranged against a red background, present a kind of personal history, and an unknown process of selection. The deep red, almost velvet-like background, against which these objects are arranged, makes me think of Joseph Cornell’s shadow boxes, where found objects take on a new life. Each medal, badge, and certificate carries a story of duty, service, and recognition. The textures vary – the smooth, reflective surfaces of the medals contrast with the fabric of the badges and the paper of the certificate. The positioning is informal. There is something playful about the way these items are arranged, almost like a puzzle or a game. The collection is a reminder that art can be found in the everyday, and that personal narratives can be powerful.