Artist in residence:
Lydia McGlinchey
When:
1 August 2023 to 31 January 2024
MadDoG:
Lydia McGlinchey will be staying at Texture as a resident for five months. She is working on a new stage performance that combines dance, music, words and textiles. She draws inspiration from textiles and lace, as well as gothic, horror and heavy metal. She has been working closely with textile artist and product designer Elena Vloeberghen for over three years.
Gothic is now very commercial and soft, but at the time it was a political and radical way of looking at the world, contrary to prevailing ideas.
RESIDENCY
During the Texture residency, Lydia McGlinchey and Elena Vloeberghen are researching lace patterns, lace sample books and metal lace in the collection. They are immersing themselves in translating weaving and lace structures into a scenographic installation. They receive technical advice from Studio teacher Susanna Van Nes on historical lace techniques, while the textile gardeners develop custom twisted threads from fancy yarns using manual spinning techniques and tools from the demonstration collection.
I love the idea that the pattern in lace is created by the spaces between the threads. That is exactly what we do. We don't focus on the motifs, but on the negative space, the uncomfortable gaps between them.
SHOWCASE
The residency culminates in the premiere of MadDoG. This dance performance interweaves the dark aesthetics of gothic, horror and centuries-old lace-making techniques into a powerful reflection on the insane social order. A world full of contradictory and disturbing images: from excessively photoshopped bodies to sobering job advertisements and violent iconography. With three performers and a musician on stage, MadDoG transforms this chaos into an intense aesthetic confrontation. The knot symbolizes the elusive complexity of a society that longs for purity but struggles with social inequality and alienation.
Premiere on 16 and 17 November 2024 at Kaaitheater, Brussels.
On 21 June 2025, MadDog will perform in Kortrijk during the Almost Summer Festival.
Residency in collaboration with Buda Arts Centre
artistic direction: Lydia McGlinchey - performers: Lydia McGlinchey, Estefanía Álvarez Ramírez, Mate Jonjic, Estefanía Álvarez Ramírez - textiles: Elena Vloeberghen & Lydia McGlinchey - costumes: Lynn Vanhoydonck - composer & musician: Iris Therasse - lighting design: Caroline Mathieu - sound engineer: Korneel Moreaux - co-researcher: Stefa Govaart - production: Kunstenwerkplaats - co-production: Kaaitheater, STUK, KAAP, VIERNULVIER - with the support of BUDA, Texture Museum, the Flemish Community and the Flemish Community Commission
With thanks to Keren Kraizer & Herman Sorgeloos
