Nationale feestrok of bevrijdingsrok samengesteld uit talloze lapjes stof, geborduurd met '19 Dec. 1935', '16 April 1945', 'Henriët van Gulik' en voorzien van de stempel 'Nationale Feestrok..., 1947' c. 1940 - 1945

This skirt was made in 1947 by E.H. van Gulik-van Lennep from countless patches of fabric. There's a real process on display here, a kind of material thinking. I love how each patch is like a brushstroke, building up this whole feeling of… survival! You can see the textures, the weight of each piece, how they're stitched together with such care. Look closely, and you'll see little dates embroidered on some squares, like a personal timeline. The fabric itself, it's not hidden. You can see the weave, the little imperfections, and that adds so much character. It's like the artist is saying, ‘Here's the truth of it, the realness of the world. This reminds me of Louise Bourgeois and her tapestries made from old clothes; both artists working with the stuff of everyday life to create something powerful and deeply personal. There is a beauty in the everyday. It is a reminder that art doesn't always have to be grand or perfect, it can be messy, human, and full of feeling.