LA CARTUJA | Mineheart Lovable Designs

Designs used: Custom Products

LA CARTUJA An unlikely dream A place, like a human being, harbours mysteries and its very own personality. La Chartreuse de la Lance, the Carthusian monastery in Switzerland where this project is set, is steeped in an unusual history which dates back to the 14th century and does indeed hold many a secret. It is not known exactly how many monks resided there, but one thing is certain: spiritual intensity was the guiding force. Carthusian monks were driven out on 26 March 1538 by the Reformation, but it is startling to think, poetically, that they might have been able to join the Cartuja of Seville, as if by magic, as a last refuge (a Carthusian's habit hung on the wall alludes to this, as though forgotten in the rush). The project takes inspiration from this unlikely dream. The figure of the charterhouse ('Cartuja' in Spanish) is pivotal in this project and its evocative power, like a constellation, forges countless links with other sources of inspiration. This element has two sides: the first refers to the place itself, where the project is set, the Chartreuse de la Lance. This construction will feature illustrations depicting the monastery: a photo in 1:1 format of the cloisters has been printed onto the net curtains in order to replicate the geography of this peculiar place at will. An old post card of the La Lance monastery has also been enlarged and, as a tribute, a monk-shaped lamp stands in front of it. The second side refers to the monastery’s Andalusian counterpart: the Cartuja de Sevilla monastery, which has strongly influenced the decor of this project. La Cartuja also leads us to a painter who was commissioned by the monastery: Zurbaran (1598–1664).