Interlace, Textile Research
June, 7 – September, 8 2019
Throughout summer 2019, Lafayette Anticipations invites the Dutch designer Hella Jongerius. She uses the building’s performative qualities to transform the interior space into a vast, constantly shifting loom; a giant textile studio, open to the public.
Hella Jongerius is one of international design’s most influential figures. Working from her Jongeriuslab in Berlin, her theoretical and experimental research explores multiple themes, often addressing the significance of colours and materials.
The project she has imagined for Lafayette Anticipations is centred around textile and weaving.
In the world of fast fashion, textiles have become a throwaway product. This exhibition questions how we consider textiles within our lives, and the cultural, social and economic implications of textile production and consumption today.
Over recent decades, we have become less aware of how our textiles are made, while artisanal production techniques are being lost. Industrialisation, mechanisation and globalisation have taken textile production away from individual understandings.
Interlace exposes the viewing public to the textile production process in order to create awareness, re-valuation and appreciation for textiles. It shows what consumers don’t usually see: the research and experimentation, the tools and materials, the trial and error that are as important as the result itself.
Throughout the three months of the exhibition, the public will be able to see new textile pieces being woven in the gallery space.
Hella uses the building’s performative qualities to transform the interior space into a vast, constantly shifting loom; a giant textile studio, open to the public.
Hella Jongerius’s project for Lafayette Anticipations builds on research in two areas: three dimensional weaving and digital weaving. Jongeriuslab has brought three looms specifically for the purpose of the exhibition.
Space Loom
This new loom developed by Jongeriuslab uses the moving platforms of the building as
part of the structure of the loom. Weavers positioned on the platforms work with multiple layers of warp threads more than 10 metres long; little by little, the weft threads form spheres, three-dimensional, woven volumes and patterns which take shape within the tower’s vertical space.
Seamless Loom
Traditionally, looms produce two dimensional fabrics which have to be cut and seamed to fit a three-dimensional object. This project studies how 3D weaving techniques can be employed to create objects that add a tactile quality to our living environment. The loom will produce three-dimensionally woven textile bricks. Brick by brick they combine into a soft wall.
TC2 Digital Jacquard
This high-tech TC2 digital jacquard loom offers the technical possibilities as an industrial loom combined with the freedom of hand-weaving. It uses commercially available software, such as Photoshop, to generate patterns which the weaver can produce directly, with the possibility to change yarns and adapt the design while weaving. A selected group of designers will be invited to use this loom for a personal research project, part of a continuing initiative by Jongeriuslab to stimulate the development of weaving knowledge among designers.
In partnership with Ideat, Trois Couleurs et le Bonbon
Thanks to the European linen spinners, certified Masters of Linen: Decoster Caulliez, Fir, Lambrecht, Linificio E Canapificio, Safilin, J. Toulemonde ; members of the European Confederation of Flax and Hemp l CELC & Tronud Engineering TC2 jacquard loom
Friday 6 September 2019
Tactile research: a symposium
In addition, a symposium to be held at the Foundation will discuss weaving techniques and technologies, as well as the social implications of modern textile production. It will bring together designers and design historians to present and discuss their research and material investigations. The
day is organised around three broad topics: “From the vernacular to the technological”, “Material culture and the locale” and “Sensuous design”.
Text and images: with thanks to Lafayette Anticipations
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