Presence in Process

In the former art workshops of designer and architect Pierre Cuypers at the Cuypershuis in Roermond—the city where her roots lie—Claudy Jongstra brings her mission, choices, and the evolution of her work to life. The focus is on previously unseen material tests and experiments, color charts, and sketches. Her exploration of centuries-old textile techniques such as ajour and guipure, as well as the use of natural materials and pigments and experiments with tactility and texture, reflect her ongoing quest.

Jongstra’s curiosity about the many possibilities of wool as a material, innovative techniques, and natural colors come together in her creative vision. Each phase of her research leads to a new artistic development and a deeper exploration of her work. The steps Jongstra takes on this journey and the surprising detours she takes result in internationally acclaimed, impressive wool-felted artworks and installations.

Thriving Sustainable Textile Art

A love of textiles—particularly a passion for wool—is the common thread running through Claudy Jongstra’s work. Roermond was once a thriving textile town, where the use of wool and the cultivation of the dye plant woad flourished. Pierre Cuypers produced textiles for ecclesiastical use; Claudy Jongstra began her career designing theater costumes, and more recently, she founded LOADS Collection together with her son Jesk. It is a label for biodynamic fashion and interior textiles, serving as a critical response to today’s fast fashion industry.

Revitalizing Knowledge and Craftsmanship

There are clear parallels between the way Cuypers—as an architect, materials researcher, designer, and artist—reintroduced old crafts and techniques and fostered collaboration with artisans, and the principles underlying Claudy Jongstra’s working methods and mission. Both share a sustainable vision on a socially relevant issue: an alternative future focused on a better world as an essential part of artistic creation.

Medieval Garden

A garden featuring native dye and medicinal plants, inspired by medieval monastery gardens, has been laid out around the exhibition, and a complementary program of workshops, lectures, and debates has been developed. In this way, the exhibition evolves into a permanent, vibrant space where art, nature, craftsmanship, and community converge, inspiring a renewed, respectful relationship with our planet—a message firmly rooted in Jongstra’s mission, body of work, and creative process.

This exhibition was made possible in part by the Cultuurfonds, Fonds 21, the Mondriaan Fund, the BNG Cultuurfonds, and the Municipality of Roermond.