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WOVEN DOCUMENTS

A series of textile works done in collaboration with a the Textile Museum and Lab in Tilburg and weavers in Tenganan, Bali, Rindi, Sumba, Yogykarta, Java, Cirebon, Java and Solo, Java responding to the Tropen Museum’s Collection.



Hugo Tillmann's artistry, with its masterful intertwining of the DNA's helical structure through the Geringsing textile and the resonant motifs of the cello, stands as a profound emblem of the confluence between ancestral legacies and modern artistic endeavors. This fusion is a vibrant testament to the enduring essence of heritage, the ongoing historical saga, and the cultural synthesis that shapes our collective human narrative.

The Geringsing, originating from Bali's spiritual core and renowned for its intricate double ikat technique, serves as the canvas where Tillmann weaves the rich tapestry of his family's story. These textiles, embedded with the sacred rites of the Balinese Hindu faith and revered for their protective and spiritual attributes, are reimagined through Tillmann's lens, marrying the traditional ceremonial significance with his familial odyssey.

Continuing this journey, Tillmann's Batik works echo the past's whispers, employing the ancient Indonesian art of wax-resist dyeing to portray the complex narrative of Georg Tillmann's life—a testament to the cultural inheritance and a chapter in Hugo Tillmann's pursuit of self-discovery and artistic integrity. These Batiks, borne of the skilled hands at Ardiyanto Batik in Yogyakarta and Danar Hadid in Solo, Java, become storied canvases themselves.

His creative expression reaches into the annals of time, drawing from the patola influences in Tenganan's Geringsing and the rich intercultural exchanges forged by the historical spice trade—a segment of the broader Tillmann family saga, seamlessly knitting past and present through textile narratives.

Since his scholarly immersion, and subsequent DROPPING OUT, in the DPHIL program at the Ruskin School, Hugo Tillmann's art has evolved continuously, a dynamic exploration deeply rooted in the Georg Tillmann collection since 2009. This collection, reflecting Georg Tillmann's eclectic pursuits and the complex journey of its curation, lays the foundation for Hugo's investigative artistic journey.

Through his work, Hugo Tillmann recontextualizes the historical and familial gravitas within a contemporary artistic framework. Each piece narrates a chapter of a larger story, harmonizing with Georg Tillmann's musical predilections, particularly the cello's motifs, and embracing the vast historical contexts of symbols and motifs from diverse cultures.

In essence, Hugo Tillmann's body of work represents a confluence of rigorous research and creative imagination. It is an artistic narrative that honors the perennial impact of history on the present and highlights art's integral role in weaving together the myriad threads of individual and communal stories. His works transcend visual aesthetics; they are dynamic re-envisionings of the Tillmann family's legacy, ensuring the intricate weave of their collective history remains poignant and influential in modern forms and contexts. Through this rich artistic endeavor, Hugo Tillmann venerates the Tillmann legacy, ensuring it continues to resonate and inspire in the fabric of the future.