Press Release Royal Fashion Design – Mattijs Van
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Press Release Royal Fashion Design – Mattijs van Bergen 29 May – 29 August 2021 At the end of May, the Grote Kerk Breda is presenting Royal Fashion Design, an exhibition featuring new creations by DutCh fashion designer Mattijs van Bergen. The exhibition will inClude his renowned ‘royal’ designs – many of which have been worn by Queen Máxima on offiCial oCCasions – and a series of new pieCes especially designed for the Grote Kerk Breda. The result is a couture collection foCused on the power of women. With his layered and colourful designs, this contemporary designer is perfectly suited for the royal and historical context of the Grote Kerk. For inspiration, Mattijs Van Bergen often looks to the arts. This exhibition includes several items from the ‘Complementary’ collection, inspired by the paintings of Vincent van Gogh, and items from the ‘Black’ collection, inspired by the photos of Ed van der Elsken, among others. 'Beauty and quality require time and concentration, says van Bergen. And this maxim goes well with the principles that the Grote Kerk maintains for both preservation and contemporary programming, namely: ‘continual movement, contemplation and quality’. New ColleCtion for Grote Kerk Breda In Royal Fashion Design, Mattijs van Bergen’s couture will be presented in the magnificent alcoves on both aisles of the Grote Kerk, in an exhibition design created by scenographer Theun Mosk and curator and director Marieke Wiegel. The exhibition will provide information on the sources of inspiration for each design and the process of making it. In a short film, Mattijs will explain how the new collection for the Grote Kerk Breda came together. Van Bergen worked with various craftspeople for this collection. The pieces in it are inspired by the strong women of the House of Nassau and the history of the Grote Kerk. Two such sources of inspiration were Johanna van Polanen and Engelbrecht II’s suit of armour. The creations are an ode to woman and throw light on her as a muse, goddess, heroine, queen, protector and giver of life. Creative Luxury for Headstrong Women – the central vision of Van Bergen’s work – is not only a perfect match for the Grote Kerk but also for Breda itself. After all, everyone in Breda knows the proverb engraved on the big Nassau clock of the church in 1667: “Those in Breda who wish to live in harmony must give women the upper hand.” DutCh Royal Family The connection between the Grote Kerk Breda and the Dutch Royal Family goes back for many hundreds of years. In the 15th and 16th centuries the Nassaus, the ancestors of the present Royal Family, built the Grote Kerk in a rich, Brabant Gothic style. Besides being a symbol of pomp and circumstance, this important National Monument is also the final resting place of nine members of the House of Nassau and the first Prince of Orange, who lie buried in the Grote Kerk’s imposing Prince’s Chapel. The Nassaus regularly commissioned important craftspeople and artists for the construction and interior furnishings of the church. Now, in the 21st century, the Grote Kerk Breda again wants to assume a commissioning role by offering a platform to talented young designers and artists. With Royal Fashion Design, Mattijs van Bergen is spearheading this vision, which brings together heritage and contemporary creators. The presentation of Royal Fashion Design – Mattijs van Bergen is organized by Marieke Wiegel, curator and director of the Grote Kerk Breda Foundation, in close collaboration with Mattijs. The exhibition takes place within the context of the Nassau Year and ties in with ‘Royal Netherlands’, the storyline about the Dutch Royal Family presented by NBTC Holland Marketing. In addition to Breda, other Royal cities such as Apeldoorn, Delft, The Hague and Leeuwarden are also organizing activities around this theme. About Mattijs van Bergen Mattijs van Bergen was born in 1980 in Beuningen as the son of a jewellery maker and an artist. After obtaining his bachelor’s at ArtEZ, he continued his studies at the prestigious Central Saint Martins College in London. His plissés, handmade and embroidered applications, layered textiles and surprising combinations of colours and materials are characteristics of his designs. His first collections quickly made an impression in the fashion world, earning him the reputable Dutch Fashion Award in 2012. After finishing his studies, he started his own label and won the hearts of the international fashion world. In 2015, he turned his back on the compelling pace of the conventional fashion system and completely dedicated himself to designing seasonally independent collections of sustainable, timeless designs for individuals. In addition, he designed costumes for Dutch and international theatre and opera companies, while also making statement pieces like ‘The Amsterdam Rainbow Dress’, which call attention to countries where homosexuality is still forbidden. He was also responsible for the workwear of companies like Monuta and The Efteling. At the end of 2019, Mattijs van Bergen donated a number of his creations to the Centraal Museum in Utrecht. • For more information on the exhibition and the Grote Kerk Breda Foundation, see: www.grotekerkbreda.nl • For the ‘Royal Netherlands’ storyline about the Dutch Royal Family in collaboration with NBTC, see: https://www.holland.com/be_nl/toerisme/holland-stories/koninklijk- nederland.htm • Made possible by the support of the Municipality of Breda, Fonds21, BredaMarketing, the Ondernemersfonds Breda and private donors Open: Mon-Sat 10 AM – 5 PM/Sun 1 – 5 PM Exhibition entrance fee: €5 With discount: €3 (Museum2Go Tickets) Free: up to the age of 18, Friends of Grote Kerk Breda, Guild and Society members, ICOM pass holders, Bankgiro Loterij pass holders Note for editors: for more information, interview requests or high resolution visual material, please contact: MDB Studio – Martijn den Boer tel: +31 (0) 6 506 788 44 / email: [email protected] The enclosed non-copyrighted photos may be used for editorial purposes, provided the photographers’ names are mentioned. Press Photos Mattijs van Bergen, ‘Royal Blue Dress’, collection: Starburst A/W, 2012 Photo: Wendelien van Daan. Mattijs van Bergen, ‘Ciel Dress’, collection: Complementair, in collaboration with the Van Gogh Museum, 2014 Photo: Wendelien Daan Mattijs van Bergen, ‘Ciel Dress’, collection: Complementair, in collaboration with the Van Gogh Museum, 2014 Photo: Wendelien Daan Mattijs van Bergen, ‘Poet Dress’, collection: Complementair, in collaboration with the Van Gogh Museum, 2014 Photo: Wendelien Daan. .