Chantilly, France: what my heart moved, the rambling years

Hand embroidery on antique French linen (2022-2023)

205 × 220 cm

The living history of artists, while entering one of the halls in the l’Abbaye de Royaumont, is reflected in the 2 Gobelins hung from the walls. Surviving centuries of upheaval, still the enduring beauty of both artworks remains for curious eyes. Studying the details, a pilgrimage led to the creation of the Chantilly, France piece of work. The level of artistic sophistication in late medieval and early renaissance does show how human hands can weave stories, reflections, impressions of the human mind, heart and especially determination. The Royaumont Gobelins stimulated artistic senses to recreate in that medieval spirit current impressions in awe of the historic and natural wonders in the Cantilienne region. So instead of an external assignment I asked myself to develop my own artistic rhythm in flows of embroidered lines, meandering in all directions, either in leaves, horizons, bloom, sky or earth. All embroidery is done by my own hand, materials used consist among others of cashmere, wool, cotton, silk, purchased in Paris, Senlis, Santa Barbara, Los Llanos, Santa Cruz de la Palma, Workum, flea markets in Chantilly. The first green silk stitch was done in the gardens of Royaumont, continued on the Petite Pelouse and the woods around Chantilly. This has been made on end of the 19th century/ early part of the 20th century French antique linen from Cognac.