A three-dimensional hand-woven textile sculpture of glass fiber threads, designed by Fransje Gimbrère for the City Council Chamber of the Municipality of Tilburg.
Fransje Gimbrère, born and raised in ‘Textile City’ Tilburg, developed a handweaving method to weave three-dimensional structures during her graduation in 2017 at the Design Academy Eindhoven. Using this same method, she designed “Cirrus”, an iconic artwork for the new Council Chamber of the Municipality of Tilburg.
Cirrus – [ sir-uhs ] noun, plural cir-rus / cir-ri [ sir-ahy]
A high floating cloud consisting of ice crystals, which looks like cotton flakes, plumes, or feathers with a stringy, fluffy structure, divided into regular stripes in the sky.
With its geometric lines and organic form, “Cirrus” enters a dynamic relationship with the architecture of the new Council Chamber and Town Hall, which was based on the golden ratio. Where the three axes of the woven structure relate to the geometrical oakwood interior, the organic shape of Cirrus brings balance and comfort to the council’s and the public’s experience of the chamber.
The thousands of threads, crossing in three directions, form a whole from afar and symbolize the many individual streams of thought and ideas that intertwine in the Council Chamber, the place where the whole of Tilburg is represented. Up close, the openness of the woven structure becomes more visible, making it seem like the artwork is merging with the space.
The cloud-like appearance of “Cirrus” brings the outside in and makes a visual and emotional connection with the city that lies on the other side of the building’s glass facade.
Photography: Charlotte Visser (studio), Karin Borghouts
