'my town: a celebration of diversity'

'my town: a celebration of diversity' exists of 179 panels. Each panel
represents one of the many cultures that are living in Amsterdam. This
subject has been inspired by Barbara Broekman’s fascination for the fact that
so many cultures are living together in one city. Amsterdam has been
Barbara Broekman’s hometown from date of birth.

'my town': collage of all nationalities:

Each individual panel shows a powerful (textile) image from a particular
culture. These images have been selected from motives in different kinds
of daily life materials, like umbrella’s, curtains, tablecloths, hats, shawls and
flags, but in such a way that the original context is not traceable. The original
composition and colours have been maintained in the final image, nothing
has been added by the artist. This makes the images true ambassadors of
these cultures. The viewer may not always recognise the image immediately
but he will feel the impact of the culture directly.

By combining these details related to the colour schemes and decoration
schemes of all cultures of Amsterdam in a systematic manner, a monumental
work arises. The total image is a decorative patchwork, closer by, pieces of
the puzzle tell an independent story. The eye of the viewer wonder between
the abstract total composition and the different elements so has an active part in reading the picture.

jacquard double weave

In this respect, this piece is comparable to Broekman’s earlier geometric
work, where the basic principle was a systematic ordering of pure colours.
What is totally different in this work is that the concept has been the starting
point. Not the artist has defined the total image but the chosen structure has
determined the final imagination.

The starting point has of course been the vision of Barbara Broekman as
citizen of Amsterdam and a professional artist on the city around her.

'my town' is realized in a variety of different materials.

In close co-operation with the Amsterdam Museum the project is realised
as a Axminster woven floor carpet in the famous “Schuttersgalerij”. This
unique museum street in the centre of Amsterdam accommodates large 17th
century’s paintings of city governors of Amsterdam. The total dimensions is
about 40 meters long and 3,5 meters wide. Read more...

jacquard double weave

carpet

orignal gouache Turkey

Barbara choose a detail from this hand woven carpet from Turkey to represent the Turkish nationality

Turkish women at work

page 'China' from one of Barbara's workbooks

gouache China