Pastoral Awakening
Claudy Jongstra's 'Pastoral Awakening / Pastoraal Reveil' artwork for the headquarters of the Netherlands Embassy and Permanent Representation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the European Union in Brussels is in direct dialogue to the equally magnificent 18th-century tapestry depicting a shepherdess.
The title describes the revelation that, in our contemporary context of ecological degradation, the pastoral presents more than just an ideal. The shepherdess holds vital clues for the regeneration of and reconnection with the landscape that is essential for the creation of a sustainable future.
Today only 1% of textiles are dyed naturally, and botanical dyeing is largely relegated to the realm of historical conservation and restoration. 'Pastoral Awakening' aims to draw 18th-century colours and their botanical sources out of history, into the contemporary landscape, and back into public view, challenging the separation of history from new visions toward a sustainable future. The artwork palette is completed with golden tones derived from onions grown by Akelei organic farm in Schriek, Belgium—a soft, glowing ray of hope emanating from the landscape. The rich shades of gold that come from humble onion skins represent the extraordinary value of collaboration between agriculture and artisanal craft, realized in tapestry.
Returning to the “verdure” tapestry genre that thrived in Oudenaarde, Jongstra’s composition emerges from the Wild Garden verdure tradition of tapestries covered with dense, flourishing vegetation.
The central subject of 'Pastoral Awakening / Pastoraal Reveil' is the rich abundance of the plant world. Centering and celebrating ecology, the artwork proposes a shift away from the figurative landscape that prioritizes an anthropocentric view of nature, toward a complete immersion in diverse, blossoming “loofwerk”. At this scale, close attention can be focused on the sensorial qualities of a biodiverse landscape that are suppressed and lie dormant in overworked, homogenous land—the mixture of colours, the depth of textures, and the variety of silhouettes that cast shifting shadows against the earth.
Lustrous strokes of hand-embroidery dotted across the composition can be read like the seeds of exuberant fauna and represent the sowing of seeds as an act of regenerative agriculture—cultivating biodiverse landscapes and inspiring ecological awareness. A frame will be added to the artwork composition to enhance the three-dimensional depth of the tapestry, while strengthening the visual connection between the contemporary artwork and the 18th-century tapestry.
The foundational material of Jongstra’s artworks, Drenthe Heath wool holds particular significance in the context of the Dutch P.V. in Brussels. As a leading center of the Flemish textile industry from the 13th to 17th century, Brussels is a primary site for the development of wool’s value and legacy across Belgium, the Netherlands, and Europe as a whole. Reintroducing people to the textured story of Dutch heritage wool revitalizes a connection with generations of shepherds, spinners, weavers, and specialized wool workers whose knowledge and skill gave life to the world of Flemish tapestry. Tapping into ancient tactile sensibilities, this regenerative material also forges vital new connections with the landscape and within working communities.
Title: Pastoral Awakening
Location: Netherlands Embassy and Permanent Representation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the European Union, Brussels, Belgium
Collection: Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Year: 2024
Dimensions: 6,80 x 3,50 m
Materials: Drenthe Heath wool, Merino wool, mohair, silk
Plant-Based Colours: Woad, madder root, weld, onion skin, walnut husk
Photography: Jannes Linders