Tapta 1926-1997

Of Polish origin, Tapta, whose real name is Maria Irena Boyé, arrived in Belgium in 1945 following the Warsaw Uprising. Trained in the art of weaving at La Cambre in Brussels, she became head of the Tapestry workshop in 1975. Bold and innovative, she renewed the traditional textile genre through the use of inventive structures and ropes. Early on, she oriented her creations toward sculptural forms, fully engaging with space and naming her workshop Sculpture souple,reflecting her constant commitment to artistic exploration. Driven by continuous reflection, Tapta experiments tirelessly: drawings and models serve as notes for a body of work in perpetual evolution. Her assemblages of forms and materials come alive through the dialogue they establish with the surrounding space. Her approach, constantly evolving, does not hesitate to question prior achievements. Favoring raw materials, she works with industrial rubber (neoprene), which she masterfully manipulates. The flourishing of her forms is achieved through monumentality and attentive dialogue with the environment, resulting in urban sculptures. Moreover, Tapta incorporates water and light as integral elements of her sculptures, introducing a new dynamic within her creations. Without ever standing still, she develops a body of work that strives toward balance. Charged with tension and interplay of resistance, her sculptures invite exchange and encounter. Weaving connections thus emerges as the guiding principle throughout her entire oeuvre.