Dutch singers Ilse DeLange and Waylon represented The Netherlands this year at the Eurovision Song Contest in Copenhagen, Denmark, under the name The Common Linnets. Their song Calm After The Storm expresses the tension in a rocky relationship, both partners not sure whether to move on or continue with one another.

This tension was symbolically emphasized on stage in the clothes of both singers, Waylon dressed in black, Ilse DeLange in a white dress that seemed to be covered with little white blossoms. This unique dress is now on display in The Netherlands.

Ilse DeLange’s dress will be the centre-piece of the exhibition Ongekend Kant (Unprecedented Lace) at Museum Ijsselstein (MIJ) in Ijsselstein near Utrecht, The Netherlands. This theme exhibition focuses on the history and use of lace, from old wedding-dresses to modern art and photography.

Work from a wide range of artists, including painters, sculptors, fashion-designers and photographers, is on display. Ilse DeLange’s Eurovision-dress fits neatly in this exhibition. Immediately after the performance in Copenhagen, the museum contacted the dress’ designer, Claes Iversen. The designer was enthousiastic, and one of his co-workers received the dress from Ilse. In Iversen’s studio the garment was then fitted for display in the museum.

 

 

Claes Iversen was born in Denmark and emigrated to The Netherlands in 1998. He was very proud to be the designer of the Eurovision-dress in which Ilse DeLange performed on stage in his native country, Denmark: “It is a great honour to be able to dress Ilse DeLange for this huge event.

The fact that the festival will take place in my native country makes it even more special”. Iversen and his team worked between 150 and 175 hours on the garment, made of organza and embroidered with flowers. The small petals give the dress a very dynamic yettt refined, lacy appearance, creating the effect that the flowers seemed to dance along with Ilse DeLang’s movements on stage. Iversen actually made two dresses for Ilse, the white one and a black one in a somewhat different style. Ilse DeLange wore the black creation during the official Eurovision opening party.

The exhibition Ongekend Kant and Ilse DeLange’s Eurovision-dress can be admired from the 31st of May until the 21st of September 2014 in Museum Ijsselstein (MIJ), located in the city Ijsselstein near Utrecht, The Netherlands. The museum has three locations throughout Ijsselstein, the museum itself, the 16th century castle tower and the old weigh-house (“Waag”).

The exhibition can be found on the ground level of the museum building, open from Wednesday up to and including Sunday, from 13.00 until 17.00 CET. More information about the museum and the exhibition can be found here: http://www.museumijsselstein.nl/

Stay tuned to ESCToday.com for the latest news on The Netherlands and the Eurovision Song Contest.