Public Art & Tapestry Diptych – Donna Daantje Doina

Donna Daantje Doina

PUBLIC ART | TAPESTRY Diptych

Donna Daantje Doina

Semi-Permanent exhibition of the diptych tapestry, Donna Daantje Doina at the Huygens Institute of Dutch history at 185 Oudezidjs Achterburgerwal, Amsterdam. June 2021 -

This site-specific tapestry diptych by Juliacks developed for the Spinhuis (aka Huygens Institute for the History of the Netherlands) is part of great narrative of Transversal Scepters, a trans-media fiction about the history and future of Justice in the Netherlands and the United States.

In Juliacks’ narrative, the physical location of the Spinhuis (Oudezijds Achterburgwal 185, Amsterdam) has become a character: Donna Daantje Doina. She faces themes of control, inequality, and (in)justice throughout the ages. It drives her to self-immolation.

Intertwined history

The tapestry on the left shows the transformations that this spot on the Oudezijds Voorburgwal has undergone in the course of history: from an open marshy area where the fresh water of the Amstel and the salty water of the IJ flowed together, to a place of seclusion (the convent of St. Ursula), detention and labor (the Spinhuis), the headquarters of the Amsterdam police and occupation (by Nazi Germany).

Curated by Suzanne Sanders, this project was produced by TAAK with thanks to Yvonne Dubbers, Prof. Dr. Lex Heerma van Voss, Prof. Dr.Jelle van Lottum, Prof. Dr. Judith Brouwer, and the technical team at the Huygens ING. The tapestries were woven at the Textile Lab in Tilburg at the Textile Museum.

This project was made possible thanks to the support of