THE 178 FACES OF AMSTERDAM
Embroideries collection – 2017
« Amsterdam.
Take a walk and listen to the people around you. . .
Look at this variety of shops and food from all over the world. . .
Meet, speak and listen to stories from the people who live in this city. . .
You will soon realize that not everyone is Dutch.
A multitude of nationalities live here, 178 to be precise. Half of the population of Amsterdam has a foreign origin.
It is this story that Mathilde wants to show with her collection of embroideries «The 178 faces of Amsterdam». Every person in this city, coming from abroad or not, brings his own story and culture and becomes one of the faces of Amsterdam. »
Each pattern is unique and inspired by the culture of each country.
This project has been the subject of several exhibitions and possible thanks to the support of DMC.
LEYMAH GBOWEE
Embroidery – 2017
Piece published in the Maker’s Magazine – Issue 4
“Liberia. While she is in the middle of a civil war, with at her side a violent husband, she decides to leave. Having followed an education, she becomes a social worker. She realizes during her missions that women are the first victims of war (raped, separated from their child,…). Then she co-founds the Women In Peacebuilding Network, and continues to fight for the union of women. She proves that this feminine alliance, without religious distinction, can have an impact on society. She manages to organize a big gathering which will have an impact on the governmental change of the country. When elections are organized she continues her social work by inciting women, poor people and illiterates to vote as a way to give them a voice.
She receives in 2011 a Nobel price, and still continues to defend women’s rights.
Inspired by her grandmother, that she described as a free woman, it’s now in her turn to take this role of an inspiring woman.
She, is Leymah Gbowee”
MNEMOSYNE
Textile & material collection – 2011
We spend our lives accumulating memories, they build us. So how to live without them, without any indications of the past?
“This is the starting point of my Mnemosyne project. Inspired by « Pas de mémoire, mémoire de pas » written by Driss Ksikes, I created this character, this woman who is looking for her memories. « She » it’s her only name, not completely humanized, it could be me, all these women that I know, or just the unknown one I cross. So, what goes through the mind of « She ».
A colorful range allowed me to start this series of creations. Based on the stage directions of the text, and on my own nightly photography, blue invade space.
Melancholy and memory blank…
Blackout…
Empty…
Slowly, the shades of color evolve, are thinning. As the image of the street lamp illuminating the character, and the return of this memory in the stage directions.
Reminiscence…
Reconstruction… »
Amnesiac – Sound Designer: Anthony Caruana
