Souffleur, what is the meaning of 'marouflage'?

SOUFFLEUR

Marouflage

Art, like all domains, has its own vocabulary. In ‘Souffleur’, M staff explain specialist terms that may sound familiar to you but perhaps no have forgotten what they mean, or you never did know.

Saar De Permentier, contemporary art staff member: ‘Maroufilage involves mounting a flexible art object, such as a painting on canvas or a drawing on paper, on a hard, inflexible support, for example a wall, ceiling or wooden panel. The reverse is also possible. Marouflage is done with a strong adhesive that hardens as it dries: glue, plaster, cement, and, in the past, lead white mixed with oil.’

‘There are several reasons for using this technique. Such as for attaching paintings on canvas to a wall as it is less time-consuming than painting the wall. Marouflage is also used in conservation and restoration, for example to attach a fragile or damaged painting to a new support. Or for transferring murals to canvas so they can be preserved and displayed safely.'

'Peter Morrens' solo exhibition at M features an example: 'Z.T.,' a muralised drawing on canvas. Drawings are fragile objects, that is part of their beauty. They are often framed behind glass when exhibited but then they also lose some of their tactility. Morrens sees marouflage on canvas as a middle way. The painting is better supported but you can still feel the material. A drawing also becomes more of an object with marouflage. Fold lines and deliberately made folds in the paper remain visible. That gives the drawing a sculptural edge, something Morrens enjoys playing with.'