THE HAGUE.- Photogenic craftwork, global influence, iconically (un-)Dutch

Thousand objects in major Delftware exhibition at Kunstmuseum Den Haag. Janny van der Heijden is co-curating a new long-term exhibition marking four centuries of craftsmanship. From household goods to haute couture: Delft Blue has never gone out of style.

“We admire Chinese porcelain for its perfection, while there’s something human about Delftware precisely because of its imperfections. The firing errors, cracks and chips in the glaze show that it was made by hand. And perhaps that is why it suits the present era so well. You can still sense the maker in the material, even hundreds of years later.” Suzanne Lambooy, curator of decorative arts, Kunstmuseum Den Haag

Kunstmuseum Den Haag has one of the world’s largest collections of Delftware, which will be displayed in a new exhibit for the next few years. Visually opulent, versatile and surprising, Blue Loves You will not only present top items from the collection, it will also offer visitors new perspectives, in a presentation that will be open to the public for several years. The extensive exhibition will present a new narrative about one of the Netherlands’ best-known cultural icons. Though first made hundreds of years ago, Delftware has never gone out of fashion. It remains a source of inspiration for potters, craft makers and artists, and continues to attract collectors and virtually everyone who likes the combination blue and white. Curated by Suzanne Lambooy and Janny van der Heijden, the exhibition will present a story of craftsmanship as a living process, of crafting by hand and contemporary makership. From vases and dining culture to 'global blue’, Blue Loves You will show how Delftware both symbolises Dutch traditional craft and is part of a global tradition of blue and white ceramics. The exhibition will combine historical eye-catchers with modern art, fashion, design and folk art, inviting visitors to rediscover Delftware: from Lego to Valentino and from embroidery to the serenity of ‘Delft White’. At the same time, Blue Loves You will raise questions about the stories behind these iconic objects, about global trade, cultural exchange and the abiding influence of Delft Blue on today’s artists, designers and makers.

“What moves me so much about Delftware is that it was never just made to look at. It belonged on the table, at home, at the centre of daily life. It’s the combination of craftsmanship, beauty and utility that makes it so timeless. From a simple object to an extravagant tulip vase, you can always feel the hand of the maker in the blue and white, and the love with which it was used. Perhaps that is its strength: the fact that it keeps reinventing itself without ever losing its soul.” Janny van der Heijden





Hands that make

One key focus will be the handmade character of Delftware. The exhibition will highlight ‘craftsmanship’ in the broadest sense: from household items to the costliest tulip vases. As well as historical masterpieces, it will also show how today’s makers are reappropriating Delftware. Blue Loves You will feature embroidery, textile art, felt objects, tuftwork and social media makers giving traditional motifs a contemporary twist. Particular attention will be devoted to a collaboration with ROC Mondriaan vocational college highlighting the importance of learning a skill and passing on craftsmanship. At the same time, the underlying stories will be revealed, showing how Delftware has been reinventing itself for 400 years.

The IKEA of the 17th century

Delftware in the seventeenth century can be compared to IKEA today, in the sense that it was affordable, functional and part of daily life. From plates and bowls to tiles and decorative objects – it brought style and harmony to the homes of a broad section of the population, democratising design long before the concept even existed. It also demonstrated that craftsmanship and mass production could go hand in hand.

Dutch global story

The exhibition will cover the period from 1600 to the present day, showing how these ceramics opened up a world of trade, migration and cultural exchange. Blue Loves You will explore how 17th-century ‘Dutch porcelain’ became the affordable alternative to Chinese porcelain, and an iconic product in itself. Delftware is inextricably linked with the rest of the world. The exhibition will therefore also address the stories of trade and migration that lie behind it, as well as how subjects like slavery, chinoiserie and gender relate to this product that seems so quintessentially Dutch.