Experiences with Stroomversneller: Sarah and Guusje - This Isn't Underwear

In *"This Is Not Underwear,"* designers and artists Sarah and Guusje explore the concept of femininity from various perspectives. Their shared fascination with lingerie—stemming from their shared background in fashion design—served as the starting point. Different “types” of lingerie are often associated with different “types” of femininity. What are these different ideas about femininity, and what does femininity actually mean?

"Through interviews and surveys, and by talking with one another and with creators from other disciplines, we explored personal ways of interpreting femininity."

Performance

The results of the research were brought together in a performance in which visitors step into a world of images, sound, and text. Part of the set was the “kinesphere,” a large fabric tent composed of various shapes and materials, within which Guusje and Sarah explored the relationship between movement and femininity and gave new forms to those movements.

This was the first major project we initiated on our own. Without the support of De Stroomversneller , we Stroomversneller never Stroomversneller been able to carry out this project.

Personal signature

By working with new materials and approaching our work in ways different from what we normally do, we’ve developed a shared artistic style. We took a leap of faith with this project and have grown not only artistically but also personally. We’re still reaping the benefits of all the insights we’ve gained through this project.

A small detour from the project: a movie

In June, we worked on a short film for the Fashion and Design Festival Arnhem (FDFA). For this film, we incorporated many elements from the *Dit Is Geen Ondergoed* collection, and aesthetically, it served as an extension of the project.

Looking Ahead

Since looking back alone isn’t enough, we’re also looking ahead! We’ve gained a lot of insights while working on this project. We did a lot of things we loved and were very passionate about, and we also did a few things we thought we’d enjoy, but which turned out not to be our thing. With these new insights, we’re working on an idea that has its roots in the Dit Is Geen Ondergoed Collection but is also a big step forward. We’re still developing this, so we can’t share too much yet, but we can tell you that we’ll be focusing on creating (physical) spaces / spatialities / places.

You can find more information about the project and Sarah and Guusje here.

About Stroomversneller

Stroomversneller a grant program that supports new initiatives in their artistic development by giving them room to experiment. The goal is to help these initiatives gain momentum in an accessible way, without too many restrictions or obligations.

Click here for more information about Stroomversneller.