Landsc'Ages, a collection of tapestries as testimonies, by Dorian Étienne

Landsc'Ages reveals the identity of ‘at-risk’ territories — caught between immersion, the human footprint and the loss of biodiversity — from a unique artistic perspective: that of the sky.

Through this local, travelling project, Dorian Étienne creates a unique collection of large-scale, three-dimensional tapestries that serve as testimonies, capturing the topography and natural richness of each region. Created on site using local and natural materials, these monumental works are powerful snapshots of a world undergoing profound ecological transformation. 

But ‘Landsc'Ages’ is much more than an art collection. It is a participatory project in which local residents learn, alongside the artist, traditional and contemporary techniques such as tufting and plant-based dyeing, before taking an active role in showcasing their region.

These creations will be reproduced in several decades’ time and exhibited as diptychs alongside the original works, offering a unique artistic record of the region’s ecological and societal evolution. Each tapestry is also accompanied by a projection of the landscape as it will appear in 50 years’ time, inviting reflection on the future of our environment.

Over the years, Landsc'Ages has supported local initiatives dedicated to the protection and promotion of biodiversity, landscapes and the environment, combining art, commitment and collective memory.

This exhibition looks back over four years of collective, travelling creativity. For the very first time in a single venue, it presents the entire Landsc'Ages collection as visitors tour the abbey.

The Landsc'Ages initiative has been recognised with several international awards, including the “Grand Prix Photography x Sustainability”, the “Mondes Nouveaux” prize, the “Citizen Driven Design Award” and the “French Design 100”.

A graduate of the École Boulle, Dorian Étienne founded his eponymous design studio in Paris in 2019. There, he combines art and craftsmanship through a humanistic and eco-responsible approach. Rooted in diverse regions, both near and far, he draws his inspiration from cultures, histories, techniques and materials. The richness of the world’s cultural heritage informs each of his projects. Guided by this connection between humanity and nature, he creates “fusion objects” that are both evocative and meaningful.

The studio’s work centres on several key areas: community-based projects in local areas, the creation of sustainable and innovative products for publishers, self-publishing for galleries, bespoke commissions, educational programmes in schools and colleges, and international creative residencies.

Over the past six years, around twenty of his works have been recognised with design, architecture and art awards in New York, Paris, Berlin, London, Saint Petersburg, Seoul, Mumbai and elsewhere