This paradigm shift is necessary when approaching today’s pressing topics around consumerism, production and pollution. Our current culture is extremely fast-paced, full of constant external stimuli and addictive input, and glorifies ‘the grind’. Overconsumption and accumulation shape our identities and compel us to (unsuccessfully) seek fulfillment. We are digitally connected but we lack the connection to our physical, emotional and spiritual needs. Positive change first takes place within, and once we remember the interconnectedness of everything, taking care of the earth will be an organic consequence of self-love. We must first align ourselves with our environment in order to imagine alternative futures for our current harmful and outdated systems. Tuscany is a relevant starting point to look at the paradox between materialism and our connection to nature, where the fashion industry plays a significant role in Tuscany and Italy as a whole. Simultaneously, life can be slow-paced with a deep respect for nature’s cycles, where the local (food) culture is intricately synchronized with the seasons. We will explore concepts like self-sufficiency and the de-growth mindset, and look into new initiatives and solutions like recycling strategies, biodegradable fabrics and other ways of closing the waste loop. The residents are invited to embrace the aspect of creative exchange with other residents as well as the local community, and focus on the process of their artistic practice instead of the outcome. Through various multi-sensory creative experiences and collaborative workshops, a cross-pollination of perspectives and ideas will take place. The three-week residency will be concluded by an event at La Tegolaia or one of our partner locations, and will be open to the public. Our upcoming residency is jointly organized by Constance, from the Netherlands, and Alessia Pasquini, a creative consultant/artist from Tuscany. Both women have personal and creative ties with Amsterdam and Florence, and they bonded over their shared passion for cultural exchange between these places. For this residency they weaved together an inspiring network of collaborators and institutions, connecting various partners cross-culturally.
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OUR RESIDENTS & COLLABORATORS
Maud van Baar
Maud van Baar de Knegt is a visual artist based in Amsterdam.
Maud works with a diverse array of mediums, including textile, murals, sculpture, installation, collage, and painting. Her intuitive creations are a vibrant burst of color and energy, frequently incorporating discarded and upcycled materials and explore questions of individual and social identity, emphasizing the human yearning for connection. Her colorful creations serve as reflections on our consumption-driven society. Today, Maud is delving deep into the world of textile art at Gerrit Rietveld Academie.
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Céline Hurka
Céline Hurka is an independent type designer based in The Hague, NL. In her practice, she aims to play with, question, and break the conventions that have prevailed for the past hundreds of years. She is fascinated by how meaning is attached to form and transforms over years of usage in different contexts. Letters are cultural signifiers that add meaning to a text far beyond the words they form. Céline's typefaces are deeply personal projects and are inspired by her long-term interest in type history, technological innovation, personal stories, pop culture, nature, and universal emotions.
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Nynke Eggen
Nynke Eggen, a fashion and sustainability expert with nearly 15 years of industry experience, started her career as an independent designer, focusing on zero-waste practices post-graduation from HKU Fashion Design. Transitioning to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), she integrated sustainability into established fashion companies. Inspired, Nynke founded The Sustainability Club, a consulting agency guiding fashion businesses in sustainability strategy, operations, and communication, aiming to meet regulatory requirements and promote responsible practices.
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Phlox van Oppen
In 2022, Phlox van Oppen graduated from the KABK as a textile designer. She is inspired by the challenges my generation is facing, such as climate change and aims to include this in her art. Her art is focused on recycling, upcycling and sustainability. She mainly uses everyday materials that are often overlooked and would otherwise end up in the trash, have now been given a new purpose. Having lived in the largest female student house in the Netherlands (with 36 girls), has led her to research various materials (such as trash bags, dryer fluff, clothing items, plastic grocery bags etc.), ecosystems, and waste on a continuous basis.
Max Zara Sterck
Max Zara Sterck is a body designer with her own fashion brand. Max Zara sees garments as a natural extension of the body, for movement and expression.
In her designing process, she observes the body to discover shapes. She intuitively listens to the fabric and its connection to the body. Naturally, lines appear and the unexpected evolves. In her design process she observes the body in movement to discover shapes and emphasize with the feeling of sensuality. Max Zara also creates set designs for dance companies and supports other artists in their design process through embodiment practises and energy work.
Faith Robinson
Faith is a researcher, creative strategist, and visual thinker based in Copenhagen, Denmark. As Head of Content at Global Fashion Agenda, she crafts world-class engagement projects across various mediums, from exhibitions to documentaries, impacting the fashion industry globally. With over a decade of experience, Faith collaborates with industry leaders and non-profit platforms to drive sustainability initiatives. Her passion for cultural trends and insights shines through her writing and speaking engagements. Her journey and impact initiatives include @post_growth and CogDis, redefining fashion's narrative.
Peter 'Chippy' Grant
Peter "Chippy" Grant, a passionate vegan chef, leads "Trewhitts Food," an award-winning catering company celebrating local, seasonal, organic ingredients. His expertise in nutrition and herbalism shines through in every dish. As a dedicated forager and mushroom enthusiast, he integrates these elements sustainably, showing deep respect for nature. He's catered worldwide at retreats, collaborating with wellness figures. At Medicine Festival, he promotes food as community foundation, aligning with nature and holistic well-being. For Peter, food is about connection, vitality, and reflection of our relationship with earth and each other.
Alessia Pasquini
Alessia jointly organizes this residency with Constance. She is a Creative Consultant and artist who passionately embroiders canvases with interwoven threads. Hailing from Florence, in Tuscany, her background is in Fashion, after which she worked for several luxury brands in Milan. Today, she works with various clients as an Art Director, Stylist, Editorial and Graphic Designer, Biomaterials & Textile designer and developer. Her objective for the next few years is to direct her attention and energy toward introducing a circular fashion approach that can progressively guide itself toward a more sustainable world.
Martine Bontjes
Martine Bontjes is an Amsterdam-based art historian and feminist.
Her mission is to bring to light the hidden stories of women. Through her company 'Women of Amsterdam,' she offers city walks through the historical center of Amsterdam where her passion for the city and women's history converge. Additionally, she works as a museum educator in various museums in Amsterdam, bringing a feminine perspective to the museum collection.
Villa Romana Florence
Villa Romana is a place of contemporary artistic production and international exchange. Since 1905, the Villa Romana Fellows, who are awarded annually, have been living and working here. During their stay they network with international guest artists and the regional and Italian art scene. Over the course of decades, the Villa Romana has thus become a unique, dynamic and committed interface for artistic production and discussion between Germany, Italy and the entire Mediterranean region.
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Terrafranta
Terrafranta, a working organic farm in Florence's hills, thrives with indigenous flora & fauna in a biodiverse ecosystem. Our agriculture philosophy trusts natural processes, intervening minimally. Founded by Carlotta, we rely on friends and volunteers for farm work, hosting events like picnics, workshops, and retreats. Our events serve homemade, organic food, sourced locally or responsibly. Eating here is a political statement, shaping Terrafranta's ethos from crop choices to food service.
LottoZero
Lottozero is a center for textile design, art and culture, with an open laboratory for textile experimentation, a shared studio space and an exhibition area. Based in Prato (Italy), one of the most important textile districts of Europe, Lottozero operates both as a creative hub and design studio. Its mission is to create a fertile environment for textile research and experimentation in design and art, and an international base for networking in the textile sector.
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