Animation still of an overview of the tapestry.
The Perpetual Tapestry
Experimental animation
Duration: 10 min
Director: Simone Hooymans
Concept, drawings and animation: Simone Hooymans
Producer: Turid Rogne
Animation and special effects :Hans Pulles
Music composer: Mari Kvien Brunvoll
Sound design: Jørgen Træen
Financiers:
Vestnorsk Filmsenter, Norsk filminstitutt, Fond for lyd og bilde
Short synopsis
The perpetual tapestry is an experimental animation about a collapsing world in transformation, where everything is tied together by the threads in a woven tapestry.
The perpetual tapestry is an experimental animation about a collapsing world in transformation, where everything is tied together by the threads in a woven tapestry.
Animation still of the weaving bees
animation still of the bee garden.
Animation still of the sea of polution.
Animation still of the world filled with fire.
A modern vision inspired by an old religious story.
The perpetual tapestry is an experimental animation about the cycle of hu- manity with all its decay and reconstruction, explored in a lively and colorful fantasy of a living and moving tapestry where the bees play a significant role.
In an animated woven tapestry, reminiscent of the ancient gobelins, both grotesque and beautiful at the same time, the struggle and recovery of life is being shown. The tapestry is constantly in the process of being woven and repaired by the bees who are pulled and gathered the threads.
The bees are dedicated to unravelling the truth of our life cycle, and may also symbolize humanity, time and history, and our shared desire to make sense of it all. With every new woven cycle, the imagery of the weave is transforming through different stages.
This is a modern, fantasy version of an old religious story. A time loop that we are trapped in. Even when we get the chance to finally change it, we seem to fail. This fascinates me deeply, yet strangely enough also gives me hope:
Hope that we do get this new chance every now and then, although the chances for success are little. Hope makes life!
Is the world heading towards its doom?
Perhaps the fear behind such a question is a little exaggerated, yet I must admit that I often feel overwhelmed by the constant stream of troubling news. What is the world coming to?
When these anxieties arise, I turn to art history to find ways of interpreting the world around us. There, I discover both comfort and inspiration—a space where I can transform my worries into artistic inquiry and search for a deeper understanding of our time.
While developing this film concept, I have been drawn to the medieval art of tapestry weaving. The 14th-century Apocalypse Tapestry in Angers, France, has been a profound source of inspiration. I feel a deep connection to this ancient art form—its way of weaving stories, preserving moments, and giving visual shape to the spirit of its age.
In my work, I explore how these narrative threads resonate in our own era, as we navigate uncertainty, transformation, and a collective unease about the future—our modern-day apocalypse.
Element of the animation
