Frieda Sorber (Be)

short BIO

Frieda studied art history and textile technology (jacquard weaving).
Since 1976 she has worked as curator for the Textielmuseum Vrieselhof, now Fashion Museum Antwerp, Belgium. In addition she did fieldwork, studying evolving textile
technology in Morocco, Japan, China, Uzbekistan, Peru and Mexico. She worked on several exhibitions and publications based on this research. Her museum work and
research also inspired her own textile production, resulting in several solo exhibitions in Belgium. Natural dyeing and printing techniques, ranging from block printing with mordants to digital prints, are a special focus.

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1976 : masters degree in arts history and archeology, State University Ghent, Belgium

since 1976 : assistant curator later curator at the Textielmuseum Vrieselhof, since 2001 curator historical collections Fashion Museum Antwerp. The collection consists of Western European costumes and textiles

1985 : Technical diploma jacquard weaving , State Technical Institute Ghent

Since the early 1980's regular field trips to mainly Islamic countries, Pakistan, Egypt, Oman, Indonesia, Turkey, Morocco, Peru ; focus on traditional textile and costume production and trade.

1998 scientific advize and catalogue contributions : Magisch Marokko at the Museum voor Midden-Afrika, Tervuren, Belgium

1989-90 : Threads of Time, video project in Fez Morocco, organized by the Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto and the Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis USA

2001 : collaboration and catalogue contributions 'The Fabric of Moroccan Life', Indianapolis Museum of Art and National Museum of African History Washington D.C.

2006 : Brussels Royal Museums for Art and History : collaboration on an exhibition with catalogue about the textile workshops of Charles, duke of Lorraine, near Brussels in the 3rd quarter of the 18th century

2007-2008 : project coordinator and textile researcher at the Royal Institute for the Cultural Heritage in Brussels : subject : the medieval  relics of the Herkenrode Abbey

2008-2009 : project coordinator at the Flemish Community government Brussels, for a checklist of important textiles kept in Flemish public and private collections, in view of legal protection for important cultural heritage

2009 : November field work in the Cusco area and Lima Peru, searching for traces of Flemish lace exported to Peru in the 17th and 18th centuries

2010 - 2011 : preparation and catalogue contribution for the exhibition : From Hairpin to Shoe Buckle, accessories in gold and Siulver, Zilvermuseum Sterckshof, Antwerp- Deurne

in preparation : a book on embroidery of the 15th and 16th centuries in the province of Antwerp, where 2 major productions centers were located.

In preparation : contributions to publications on lace (Gorizia, Italy) and textile printing (Modemuseum, Hasselt)

Technology has always deeply interested me. And I very much enjoy comparing technologies in different areas and time periods. This led me to a production of my own work, influenced by my travel experiences.

1996 : The Art of Passementerie, New York, The New York School of Design, contribution with modern passementerie

2003 : solo exhibition : 'Transformaties', Art Gallery De Mijlpaal, Heusden-Zolder, Belgium

2006 : solo exhibition : On-natuurlijk; Cultureel Centrum Herk-de-Stad, Belgium

2006 : solo exhibition : Kleur bekennen : Museum Taxandria and city of Turnhout, Belgium

2010 : Co curator and artist at the exhibition : ‘Ingewikkeld', Hasselt Clariss convent ;textile work based om my studies of medieval relics, involving medieval techniques of flower making, work with gold and silver threads, and inkjet digital printing

2011 : april ; artist in residence at Fondazione Lisio, Florence; I concentrated on working out two designs and wove them on a handloom in silk velvet

for more information regarding the Modemuseum in Antwerp and their current or upcoming exhibitions pls check www.momu.be

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