New weaving machine sparks excitement among artists and designers
The TextielLab has recently welcomed a brand-new, computer-controlled Dornier weaving machine measuring an impressive 3.5 metres in width. Thanks to funding from the Dutch government, the TextielLab has been able to make this long-held ambition a reality. With its exceptional width, the new machine opens up a world of technical possibilities for textile artists and designers. Internationally acclaimed Nigerian-Belgian artist Otobong Nkanga has the honour of inaugurating this remarkable new addition.
Watch the video in which Otobong, Stef and Hebe talk about the new weaving machine.
The new weaving machine has been at the top of the TextielLab's wish list for many years. As the professional workshop of the TextielMuseum, the TextielLab already houses three computer-controlled weaving machines, all of which are in high demand, with waiting lists continuing to grow.
"Adding a fourth machine not only allows us to welcome more artists and designers into the lab, it also greatly expands the range of possibilities we can offer," says Hebe Verstappen, Head of the TextielLab. "Thanks to the width of the new machine, it is now possible to weave enormous seamless surfaces. Artists can truly think and work on a much larger scale."
Photo: Josefina Eikenaar
Otobong Nkanga X TextielLab
Visual artist Otobong Nkanga (born in 1974 in Kano, Nigeria, now based in Antwerp) has been invited to inaugurate the new weaving machine. She will create a series of four woven tapestries, although exactly what they will look like remains to be discovered.
"That's the exciting part," says Nkanga. "I'll get to know the machine through close collaboration with Stef Miero, master weaver at the TextielLab. We'll experiment with yarns, volumes and textures, and see what happens. One discovery will lead to the next, and I'm really looking forward to that."
The four-part series created at the TextielLab was first presented in autumn 2021 as part of Nkanga's solo exhibition at Kunsthaus Bregenz.
Photo: Josefina Eikenaar
About the TextielLab
The TextielLab combines a professional workshop with a centre of expertise. It is a place for research and development, equipped with state-of-the-art machinery, techniques and specialist knowledge to realise innovative textile projects.
The opportunity to develop pioneering textiles in close collaboration with highly skilled craftspeople and advanced machinery has made the TextielLab a sought-after destination for designers and artists from around the world. Both emerging talents and internationally established artists use the lab as a place to experiment and develop new ideas.
Nkanga has been working with the TextielLab for many years.
"I have the time and freedom to carry out research, experiment and explore new materials and techniques. That is incredibly valuable to me. The people in the lab, their expertise, and the artists and designers I meet there are all a constant source of inspiration."
Looking ahead
In 2021, the TextielLab became part of the Dutch Cultural Basic Infrastructure (BIS), securing four years of structural funding from the national government.
This investment enables the TextielLab to further professionalise its activities. Over the coming years, the lab will invest not only in new machinery, but also in digital innovation, research commissions and talent development programmes. It will organise symposia and masterclasses, while further strengthening its role as a connector between artists, designers and commissioners.
In response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the TextielLab rapidly digitised many of its working processes. Despite travel restrictions, artists were able to continue developing their textile projects remotely or safely on site in the lab.
