25.11.2024

Start crowdfunding for musical couture dress

Inspired by the 18th century royal Clay clock in Museum Speelklok's collection, fashion designer Maartje Dijkstra and composer Beorn Lebenstedt are working on the spectacular art installation AU-2-MATERIA, together with composer Beorn Lebenstedt.

De gouden jurk van Maartje Dijkstra
De gouden jurk van Maartje Dijkstra

This installation consists of a dazzling gold couture dress and a transparent overdress that drives a musical composition by Beorn Lebenstedt. The process of making the dress is innovative, labour-intensive and expensive. To complete the installation, the museum and the fashion designer are starting a crowdfunding campaign via the Voor de kunst platform.

The crowdfunding started this weekend. In the upcoming weeks, the museum hopes to raise the necessary amount so that the installation can be presented to the public in the museum from January 9.

New technologies are basis for Maartje Dijkstra’s work

New technologies are the basis of Maartje Dijkstra’s creations. What is unique about this work is that she prints the couture dress by hand with a 3D pen. After an internship at fashion house Alexander McQueen and graduating in Fashion Design from ArtEZ in Arnhem, Maartje founded her own label. For the exhibition ‘Pracht en Dracht’ she made a futuristic design based on traditional Drenthe costumes. This creation was also presented during last King’s Day in Emmen. In addition to exhibitions and collaborations with artists such as Daan Roosegaarde, her work attracted the attention of international artists such as Lady Gaga.

De koninklijke Clay klok en het goudkleurige binnenwerk
De koninklijke Clay klok en het goudkleurige binnenwerk

The Royal Clay Clock

Charles Clay (1695-1740) was appointed ‘Clockmaker to His Majesty’s Board of Works’ at the English royal court in 1723. In this capacity he worked on an impressive series of organ clocks until his death. These are still among the absolute top that England has produced in this field. There are now seven known copies of his work, which are in museum and royal collections in Europe and China. Museum Speelklok acquired the most complete clock in 2016. This is one of the highlights of the museum collection.

If you would like to help us complete the installation so we can present it in the museum, please donate via Voor de kunst.

Photo dress (c) Eric Kampherbeek