Textile now – each thread tells a story

10 June 2023 T/M 1 October 2023

In this exhibition, you will experience how contemporary artists employ textiles to tell stories that matter. Current social themes are translated to installations and tapestries full of poetry and imagination. Multimedia artists in particular use textiles for their specific properties, a long tradition of storytelling and symbolic, artisanal and emotional value.

About the exhibition

From art fairs to museum exhibitions; textiles are more popular than ever. Artists from all over the world come to the TextielLab, the TextielMuseum’s professional workshop, to research and experiment. Textile now displays previously unseen work by both well-known names and young talent. They use the unique expressiveness of textiles to draw attention to current themes like identity, diversity, sexuality, gender, environment and decolonisation, and sometimes actively involve you as an audience.

The exhibition features work from: melanie bonajo and Théo Demans , Afra Eisma, Ada M. Patterson, Otobong Nkanga, patricia kaersenhout and rolando vázquez, Karo Akpokiere, Geo Wyex, Alydia Wever and Ryan Oduber, Raquel van Haver and Bindweefsel.

Otobong Nkanga inspects her work 'Tied to the Other Side' in the TextielLab, photo: Willeke Machiels
patricia kaersenhout together with weaving expert Stef Miero in the TextielLab, working on 'Our Light Will Outlast Their Flags', photo: Josefina Eikenaar
Geo Wyex with one of his tufted rugs, part of the work 'ATM and River of Stars', photo: Josefina Eikenaar
melanie bonajo and Théo Demans examine one of the first samples for 'Piles of Oxytocin Shape Dreams Under Skin' together with knitting-expert Sarena Huizinga, photo: Tommy de Lange
Karo Akpokiere working on one of his sketches in his studio, foto: Henning Rogge
Alydia Wever and Ryan Oduber working in the TextielLab on 'Dilanti di Biento', photo: Patty van den Elshout

Textile connects

In the exhibition, you will also find the result of the second edition of project Bindweefsel. Fifteen women from different cultures created an art piece titled Coat of Many Colors together with artist Theodorus Johannes. Each of the participants worked on their own part of the caftan-like coat in the TextielLab and they used various passement techniques. The beautiful, multicoloured coat unites all their stories and creativity. The group found their inspiration in fashion as an expression of identity and in the Dolly Parton song of the same name.