Christel van Calsteren
I studied textile design at the Gerrit Rietveld Art Academy (Amsterdam) and work as a costume designer for various clients for the last 18 years. Two years ago I decided to start making ‘my own’ textiles and art. ‘Bloodline’ is my first conceptual interior textile collection. By use of a drop of my own blood – enlarged by a microscope – I aimed to stay close to myself. The images resulted in extraordinary patterns, which I translated integrally to high quality jacquard wefts. A high-end collection of home textile design made of wool, linen and reflective yarns – giving a lightening effect when ‘kissed by light.’
“Bloodline is my first conceptual interior textile collection. By use of a drop of my own blood – enlarged by a microscope – I aimed to stay close to myself”
I find inspiration in everything I see, read, hear, feel, smell, taste … ‘life’. Beautiful stories, good conversations with strangers or friends, I always felt a strong concept is in front of you, you just have to see it , hence that microscope. Beautiful images and stories are often very close to yourself. The design process took place in the Textile Lab in Tilburg. A location proven to be rich of opportunities and facilities in making all kinds of yarns and jacquard woven fabrics. The research period resulted in a sample book of which I selected three designs to ultimately develop the textiles for the collection of blankets and cushions.
I love making beautiful things and tell stories. In addition, I am sincerely fascinated by the technique of jacquard weaving and special materials. “It’s interesting to bring an abstraction come to live in a totally new form and shape.” I think my work is best described as exuberant and theatrical, warm and easily accessible. I also think that you can see that I really love the craft, I try to get everything out of the technique. I exposed my work last year at Designkwartier The Hague, Dutch Design Week Eindhoven, Meesterlijk Amsterdam and Masterly in Milan in 2018.
When I finished my studies at the Rietveld Academy I was 24 and a bit too insecure to start making my own art. I started to work in a textile shop in Amsterdam and learned a lot about fabrics and materials. From that point I slowly started to freelance as a costume designer for theater, dancers, acts and events. Now I am a bit older and my concepts and ideas are more clear to myself, I feel it’s time to start telling ‘my own story’. The last decades of working as a designer have given me the strength and insight in my own capabilities and I feel free to take on this new adventure, curious to see where this path leads me to…
