Hommage à Tapta: La Cambre 100
Tapta, Néoflexible (1985/2026).
Courtesy Maurice Verbaet Collection.
Photography © Lola Pertsowsky.
Through this loan, the Maurice Verbaet Center is proud to contribute to the renewed recognition of an artist whose experimental vision continues to resonate within contemporary sculpture.
To mark the centenary of La Cambre and the 100th anniversary of Tapta’s birth, the Maurice Verbaet Center is pleased to present Néoflexible (1985/2026), a monumental sculpture on loan from its collection, installed in the historic courtyard of La Cambre Abbey in Brussels.
This presentation holds particular significance, as Tapta (1926–1997) maintained a close relationship with La Cambre throughout her career. Having first studied at the institution, she later returned as a professor, taking charge of the Tapestry and Weaving Department in 1976. Renaming it Sculpture souple (Soft Sculpture), she encouraged a radical reconsideration of textile practices, challenging conventional distinctions between sculpture, architecture and space.
Originally conceived in neoprene in 1985 and realised in steel for this presentation, the seven-metre-long Néoflexibleembodies Tapta’s pioneering approach to materiality, structure and movement. Its striking geometric composition enters into dialogue with the architecture of the abbey, transforming the courtyard into a space of artistic encounter.
The installation also coincides with the 30th anniversary of the City of Brussels’ Public Art Committee, which Tapta helped establish in 1996, further highlighting her lasting influence on the relationship between art and public space.
Presented in collaboration with La Cambre and the City of Brussels, this exceptional installation forms part of a broader celebration of Tapta’s artistic legacy, alongside Tapta meets Judd at the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, on view until 14 March 2027.
