A column rises up, its emblem almost breaking through the roof. Reminiscent of monumental advertising signs one finds next to the highway, 135 kg CO₂ the amount of emissions produced for the creation of this artwork - is made in artisanal rocaille-technique. The decorative practice originated in the 19th century with the rapid spread of the usage of portland cement, which saw the material deployed to mimic natural appearances: faux bois (fake wood), faux pierre (fake stone) and fax rocher (fake rocks). The bark of this concrete tree imitates that of a wild cherry tree, and is crowned with a faux coquillage (fake shell). The scallop - celebrated throughout art history as a symbol of fertility, life, beauty and rebirth - has been appropriated by one of the most polluting multinationals of our globalised capitalist world. Research reveals that Shell is responsible for 1.8 % of all greenhouse emissions since the start of the Industrial Revolution. The opaque grey, grim shell-tree stands as a stark monument for our petrified nature: a world where oceans acidify, shells dissolve, coral reefs fade and die and areas become unlivable due to desertification. A fossilised environment, deprived of life and colour.
©Photo Eline Willaert, exhibition view "Terre en force" at Kusseneers Gallery with the work of Lara Ögel (TR), Carlos Irijalba (ES) and Lola Daels (BE). Terre en force reunites work that explores the incongruent relationships we construct and foster with the earth on which we stand. They reveal admiration, intimidation, bewilderment, the urge to control and even emulate natural phenomena and forces of our decaying ecosystem. The practices of the three artists explore positions on this spectrum, coming together in a triptych exhibition curated by Evelyn Simons.
Biography
Lola Prima Donna Daels °1990, Brussel (BE). Member of Level Five, Brussels.
- Contact:
- +32 485 52 61 04
- lola_daels@hotmail.com
- @loladaels
- @level five
- 90.08.11-312.43
- CV
Lola Prima Donna Daels (b. 1990 in Jette, BE) is a Brussels based artist. Leaving from found objects, she poses critical inquiries about the ecological and socio-political situation. By reshaping and integrating her relics into new contexts she questions the concept of authenticity in our globalizing society. She has exponentially gravitated towards researching the human impact from an ecological preoccupation. She works site-specifically, both in research scope as well as in execution.
Daels obtained her master degree in visual arts in 2014 at Luca School of Arts, Brussels. She has been part of several residency programs such as EKWC (NL), Kooshk recidency (IR) and Cité Internationale des Arts (FR). Her work was shown at Bozar (BE), Extracity Kunsthal (BE), Deegar Platform (IR), Art Sonje Center Seoul (KR) and many more.
Her interest in urban complexities led to the collaboration with architect and urbanist Sebastiaan Willemen.
Upcoming
2025
- Creatures of the Sea, Academia Belgica, Rome (IT)
30 January 2025 5PM - 9PM
This presentation unveils the work I’ve created during my residency (oct-jan) @academia_belgica
- Keikoppen, Museumhuis Lucien De Gheus, Poperinge (BE)
18 May 2025 - 21 September 2025
Group Exhibition with Leyla Aydoslu, Dirk Braeckman, Peter Buggenhout, Casimir, Helena Cnockaert, Lola Daels, Berlinde De Bruyckere, Maarten De Ceulaer, Theo De Meyer, Lydia Hannah Debeer, Babs Decruyenaere, Edith Dekyndt, Lieve D’hondt, Sam Druant, Filip Dujardin, Johan Gelper, Annelotte Lammertse, Atelier lachaert d’hanis, Klaas Rommelaere, Linda Freya Tangelder, Ante Timmermans, Bram Van Breda, Muller Van Severen, Maarten Vanden Eynde, Bram Vanderbeke, Ybren Vanoverberghe, Studio Unfold, Dittmar Viaene, Conrad Willems, Dirk Zoete
- Uncharted by OHME at ISELP, Brussels (BE)
18 September 2025 - 06 December 2025
Texts and publications
2025
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Ruimte Magazine: Bomen & bossen, Meesterproef; Sociaal Wonen "Moederbos" P.67
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A+ (306), Building for Culture, Sociaal Wonen P. 115.
2024
- Interview in Metropolis M by Jasper Delva
"Chocolade zeevruchten van nepmarmer: Lola Daels over haar simulacra-sculpturen"
- Video by Different Class (Jonas Reubens) about my residency at M Leuven.
2023
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Artist of the month, Interview by Elien Haentjens for Collect Magazine
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Lola Daels blaast rocaille nieuw leven, Interview door Cédric Raskin
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Veldwerk Publication 2022, published by Plan B, designed by Brecht Haeyen & Timo Bonneure.
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Brief van Tine Hens aan Shell-CEO Ben van Beurden
2022
- Interview with Subbacultcha, Who decides what’s valuable?
- Interview with Kunstenplatform PLAN B, Het onderzoeksplan: Sebastiaan Willemen & Lola Daels
2021
- Beschouwing Ephemeral Focus, Sofie Crabbé
2020
- Peer Production, Published by AAIR Antwerpen
- Hans Theys, over Le Vrai Fake I
- City Trip, CC Menen
2019
- HART Magazine, Interview Lola Daels
- Extracity Antwerpen, Objects VS Things
2016
- THE WORD magazine, chépas collective
- Rachelle Dufour, Finissage Group Exhibition
2014
- Davis Freeman about a Favela Project
- Marck Verminck, Doelmatigheid zonder doel… voor een doel
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