Human Nature

The work of Magdalena Abakanowicz emerged after World War II and during the period of Russian oppression in Eastern Europe. Many of the themes in her work—such as the tension between East and West—have once again become relevant today. In 1971, she attended a meeting of the Club of Rome, where she first heard about climate change. This experience inspired her to focus on restoring the balance between humanity and nature. In her time, it took an atomic bomb and a moon landing to realize just how fragile our planet is.

Het Noordbrabants Museum presents Abakanowicz’s work in the context of both world history and contemporary issues. Her pieces are shown alongside modern artists such as Anish Kapoor, Kimsooja, Marlene Dumas, and Kader Attia. Especially for this exhibition, choreographer Nicole Beutler has created a dance performance, and a new film by Kristina Benjocki and Stijn Verhoeff will premiere.

Everything is made of fiber

Abakanowicz's beautiful works will remain on display at the TextielMuseum for a little longer. The exhibition will be open to the public until Sunday 21 September.

Step into an awe-inspiring universe of monumental textile sculptures that blur the boundaries between art and nature. Abakanowicz was fascinated by the texture of textiles and the structure of natural fibers. She used this fascination as the basis for her woven works, but also to portray the human body. She traveled the world to personally curate her exhibitions, placing her sculptures at the center of the space to create an 'environment'—a world of their own. With this spatial concept, she became one of the pioneers of installation art.

At the TextielMuseum, we dive into Abakanowicz's creative process. Her studio, workshop, and home in Warsaw have remained intact since her passing in 2017. We visited these places and spoke with her former assistants, who still maintain them and manage a collection of her work. The exhibition features a film—largely recorded in Warsaw—in which they share insights into Abakanowicz's unique way of working.

Bois le Duc

The largest artwork ever created by Abakanowicz is located right here in Brabant. The spectacular Bois le Duc consists of 19 woven panels, each over 7 meters high and 22 meters wide. This monumental work was specially made for the Bois le Duc room, designed by architect Maaskant.