Giselle Kuster: Unbounded

Step into the world of Giselle Kuster, a pioneering female artist long overlooked. At Museum van Bommel van Dam visitors were immersed in her powerful paintings, designs, and rediscovered works, experiencing her life and artistry up close. The exhibition highlights Kuster’s versatile oeuvre, placing her work in context with contemporaries and inspirations, while shining a light on the historical role of women in Dutch art.
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Text & print production
Weemen
Curator
James Hannan
Production and concept
van Bommel van Dam

Concept
The exhibition concept revolves around Kuster’s life and work, with each period given its own visual identity. The chronological layout guides visitors through her artistic development, using colors, typography, and duotone wall prints to tell a subtle narrative. In addition to Kuster’s own works, rediscovered paintings and designs from private collections were included, making over 170 works visible again. Contemporaries and inspirations such as Charley Toorop, Jan Sluijters, and Otto van Rees offered extra context and depth.

What did we create?
Designer Dana Dijkgraaf developed a visual concept connecting the exhibition and the accompanying book. Each period of Kuster’s life received a unique color palette tailored to the works of that time. Historical photographs of key locations were enlarged and presented as duotone wall prints, creating a spatial and immersive experience. Texts were printed on colors harmonizing with the exhibition palette, using Avant Garde for body text due to its experimental connection to Kuster’s work, and a warm rounded typeface for titles reflecting her character.

The design also emphasized layering and presentation: monumental self-portraits and photography were enhanced with a custom curtain installation at the entrance, inspired by the fabrics of Kuster’s parents’ store, in lilac and yellow shades highlighting her name and presence.

Sparkles
The theatrical entrance immerses visitors immediately in Kuster’s world. The combination of color, duotone prints, and layered typography makes the exhibition visually captivating, narrative, and immersive. Rediscovered works and contextual pieces from contemporaries revive Kuster’s unique voice in art history, allowing visitors to connect deeply with her life, work, and character.

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