Finding MOMU

Finding MOMU

Antwerp Day 1 - July 2nd 2016

The old town of Antwerp is a wonderful mix of twisted streets, cobbles and quirky exteriors. Arriving in sunshine then being rained upon is always an interesting introduction to a place. The beginning of finding MOMU was crossing the market place mid market, always a joy of smells, colours, textures and people. A fabulous market. Lunch from the Turkish stand. The most amazing wrap ever of goats cheese, vegetables, olives, dates and honey, washed down with mint tea, all for 5 euros. The mix of families, people of all ages and backgrounds queuing for food and sharing the experience, a perfect Saturday.

lunch

people watching

           On through the high end shops, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, mixed in with local designers. The Antwerp residents a different mix of clothes again to Tilburg. More dresses. Less make up than the UK, a more natural look in quality clothes. There seems an awareness of good quality clothes and footwear. The city was full of shoppers, tourists, day trippers, residents and had a great sense of energy and wanting to see more and explore more. The Cathedral visible from most quarters.

Antwerp Cathedral

Nearly there

great vintage inspired store

80's remembered

           MOMU sits on a triangular shaped block of buildings, near to the Dries Van Noten store. An open entrance way with a wonderful moving wall of images from former exhibitions and current promotion. Right next to it is a seriously fabulous book shop akin to the V&A’s book store. Walking in, the atrium is broad, spacious and light filled, designed in teak coloured wood, imposing, yet contemporary, enticing you in with its sense of spectacle. The two reception ladies were really welcoming and informative and became the key to my visit. Finding out that it was Uniqlo Sunday the next day which meant free entry to the museum rather than the usual entry fee and a free T-Shirt.... Then getting the direct emails of the two people I needed to speak to. So a gateway opened and a plan created for Sunday, meant more time to explore the streets of Antwerp.

MOMU entrance

More beautiful innovative textile pieces

A few more images

The renewed interest in textiles comes just in time to save the textile industry from extinction. The TextielLab plays an important role in that. We only have a few years left to breathe a new life into this endangered species’ 

LidewijEdelkoort, Trend Forecaster.

A little more on Tilburg

More areas:

On speaking with Stef Miero at Textiel Lab, the other areas that are key to the museum are the laser cutter which is a tool of increased interest and demand. The knitting area which had a range of small circular knitting devices and several long knit machines and tubular yarn machine. Again all were in use and there were lots of examples of completed commissions alongside the machines to show visitors what was possible and the range of work that is done within the Lab.

circular knitting machines. 

I was intrigued by the tufting area as I haven’t seen carpet looms up close before. The walls were shelved with cones and cones of wool of a myriad of hues, a perfect palette of shading from one colour to the next. Samples of what was possible were on the loom and along the side of the space. Once again the visitor was encouraged to look, engage and touch. This approach enables visitors to have a greater understanding of the textile and the maker and the skills and time needed to create.

There is a printed textiles area but there was a fine layer of dust around all the equipment. This was a skill that hasn’t been in such demand so for the moment is moth balled, showing the importance of adaptability and maximising resources.

mid production

explanation of manufacture

The other area that made me think of making and looking at new ways to work was the passementerie. Located at the back of Gallery 2, near the finishing machines, it included a range of small braiding machines and large braiding looms. The diversity of threads that could be used and the potential to create new textures, properties and opportunities for braid was exciting. I began leaping into hat making and creating new braid to replace straw which is difficult to obtain. The joy of museum and archive inspiration. Something new drawn from reflecting on past heritage, creating new possibilities.

Digging in the library

textile samples

Fascination with labels

cloth and fibre samples

Something from Yorkshire

The Journey Begins

Yorkshire to Nederlands via Scotland and Belgium

Edinburgh Airport

So needed these at Brussels train station

So you leave at 9am across the wilds of Scotland, levels of nerves and anticipation, as the flights was only booked on Sunday.... will this five weeks of travel and as WCMT states fun work out. Not that I am a worrier or anything....

Julia Weston gives tips and advice to Churchill Fellows

Edinburgh Airport is a joy, wonderful staff, straightforward security and off we go.

Arrived safely in Brussels airport having gone through the itinerary with a fine tooth comb and aware that it would be a fast run to get to the train at the airport in time. This is where you just have to smile. Went through security asked where the train station was as could see no signs. Sorry madam we have no train station that is at the other Brussels Airport.....

Slight panic, deep breathing, bus ticket purchased and train timetables checked. May get to Tilburg tonight!! Hence the chips at Brussels train station, a small celebration for not totally panicking.

Seriously brilliant trains and all on time. I love watching the country side shift and change on the train definitely my favourite way to travel especially when in a coach like olden days train travel...

Paul Smith esque interiors in silent coach Brussels to Roosendahl

Silent Coach - lovely graphics

Are we there yet?

Arrived on Tilburg after 10pm so not so harrowing. Lots of lovely kind people to direct and smile with. Looking forward to the museum adventure tomorrow. 

Introductions

I have been fortunate to have been awarded a Winston Churchill Fellowship by the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust. My Fellowship is within The Creative Industries field and aims to look at best practice across Western Europe of supporting artisan makers through museums, collaborative practice, community engagement and innovative ways of thinking. As an educator and occasional milliner my main theme will be to address this within millinery and ways that can be shared within the U.K. to enable this niche area to survive and thrive.

The image from the train to Tilburg, Nederlands, seems a perfect symbol for the purpose of the WCMT Fellowships - to have conversations, to share, to listen, to learn.

My planning has been slightly erratic. i am someone who always considers that there are 36 hours in a day and that I need little sleep. The reality is that i need at least 8 hours and there are only 24 hours. So this has been my first learning before I began. It's alright to ask for help and you need lots of time to plan. Working 50+ hour weeks isn't always conducive to this so another observation to take forward before i even began my travels.

Jacquard card punch at Textiel Museum Tilburg, Nederlands

So order and organisation to assist me getting the most from this truly amazing opportunity.