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Joannes en Lucas van Doetecum naar een prent van Allart Duhameel, uitgegeven bij H. Cock, ca. 1563. De Belegering van den Olifant. Koninklijke Bibliotheek van België, Prentenkabinet, inv. S.11 20717.

MAKING OF ‘THE RETURN OF THE ELEPHANT’

8/4/2016-30/9/2016

Designed and developed with world-renowned Belgian artist Jan Fabre

In around 1530, a remarkable series of five tapestries was woven in Brussels based on the works by Dutch artist Hieronymus Bosch. Only an incomplete series still remains in the collection of the El Escorial in Spain; ‘The Elephant’ is missing. 

Posted 10 June 2016

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The tapestry’s composition is well known: a besieged elephant under attack from all sides. To mark Bosch’s 500th anniversary, Het Noordbrabants Museum and the TextielMuseum are bringing ‘The Elephant’ back to the Netherlands – not as a replica of the original, but as a contemporary interpretation of Bosch’s design by the world-renowned Belgian artist Jan Fabre.

The tapestry will be produced using modern techniques in the TextielLab of the TextielMuseum. The process from design to production, which will examine the differences between the 16th century and today, is the subject of the exhibition Making of ‘The Return of the Elephant’ in the TextielMuseum. The end result will be displayed in Het Noordbrabants Museum in late 2016. 

Title: Jan Fabre at work in the TextielLab Year: 2016
Photo: Josefina Eikenaar/TextielMuseum 

Title: Wall with rotating panels in the exhibition ‘Making of ‘The return of The Elephant’’ Year: 2016
Photo: Josefina Eikenaar/TextielMuseum 

Title: Weaving sample in the exhibition ‘Making of ‘The return of The Elephant’’ Year: 2016
Photo: Josefina Eikenaar/TextielMuseum 

Title: Mood board about the making of the tapestry by Jan Fabre in the TextielLab Year: 2016
Photo: Josefina Eikenaar/TextielMuseum 

Research & development
On 11 September 2015, the TextielMuseum organised the project’s official kick-off with Jan Fabre, introducing the artist to the TextielLab’s many technical and material possibilities. Fabre will design and develop the tapestry between December 2015 and the spring of 2016.

The TextielMuseum has invited filmmaker Roel van Tour to record the tapestry-making process from design to production, now and in Bosch’s time. The film installation will immerse visitors in the world of Bosch and Fabre, bringing to life the story of ‘The Elephant’ in the 16th and 21st century. Besides the film installation, a number of historical tapestry objects and Fabre’s textile swatches will also be on display. The exhibition will be added to throughout the year as the artist’s design progresses. After production in the TextielLab and the exhibition in the TextielMuseum, the tapestry will be transferred to Het Noordbrabants Museum in ’s-Hertogenbosch, where it will be included in The Return of the Elephant from 29 October 2016 until 29 January 2017. 

Title: Weaving samples in the TextielLab Year: 2016
Photo: Josefina Eikenaar/TextielMuseum 

Title: Researching bindings and yarns Year: 2016
Photo: Josefina Eikenaar/TextielMuseum 

Title: Researching bindings and yarns Year: 2016
Photo: Josefina Eikenaar/TextielMuseum 

Title: Product Developer Weaving Stef Miero discusses samples with trainee Charlotte Cardyn Year: 2016
Photo: Josefina Eikenaar/TextielMuseum 

 
Title: Researching bindings and yarns Year: 2016
Photo: Josefina Eikenaar/TextielMuseum 

A working museum
The TextielMuseum is a working museum, where craftsmanship and innovation are central. The combination of inspiring exhibitions, educational programmes and a specialised workshop for research and production make the museum one of a kind. An important focus is the transfer of knowledge to visitors, schools and professionals, by entering into cross-sectoral collaborations such as this one. 

Title: Detail of sample by Jan Fabre in the TextielLab Year: 2016
Photo: Josefina Eikenaar/TextielMuseum 

Title: Weaving expert Stef Miero at work in the TextielLab Year: 2016
Photo: Josefina Eikenaar/TextielMuseum 

Title: Detail of sample by Jan Fabre in the TextielLab Year: 2016
Photo: Josefina Eikenaar/TextielMuseum 

Bosch Grand Tour
This exhibition is part of the Bosch Grand Tour. In 2016, seven major museums in the province of Brabant will present a contemporary exhibition programme to coincide with Hieronymus Bosch – Visions of a Genius (13 February-8 May 2016) in Het Noordbrabants Museum.

Be inspired and surprised during a voyage of discovery through contemporary art, design and culture in ’s- Hertogenbosch, Breda, Eindhoven and Tilburg. The Bosch Grand Tour is a collaboration between the Van Abbemuseum Eindhoven, De Pont Museum Tilburg, MOTI Museum of the Image Breda, Natuurmuseum Brabant Tilburg, Het Noordbrabants Museum ’s-Hertogenbosch, Stedelijk Museum ’s- Hertogenbosch and the TextielMuseum Tilburg. 

Title: Jan Fabre at work in the TextielLab Year: 2016
Photo: Josefina Eikenaar/TextielMuseum 

Title: Jan Fabre in search of the right yarn and colour in the TextielLab Year: 2016
Photo: Josefina Eikenaar/TextielMuseum 

See the Agenda in Dutch>

TEXTIELMUSEUM
Textiellab
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NL-5046 GN Tilburg, the Netherlands
+31 (0)13-5367475
www.textielmuseum.nl

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