Dutch Designer Christien Meindertsma Turns Waste Wool Into Colossal Lamb Sculpture.

Designer Christien Meindertsma with First there was a mountain, 2024 for the MECCA x NGV Women in Design Commission, on display from 3 October 2024 – February 2025 at NGV International, Melbourne. Photo: Eugene Hyland.

Installation view of Christien Meindertsma’s First there was a mountain, 2024 for the MECCA x NGV Women in Design Commission, on display from 3 October 2024 – February 2025 at NGV International, Melbourne. Photo: Kate Shanasy.

Installation view of Christien Meindertsma’s First there was a mountain, 2024 for the MECCA x NGV Women in Design Commission, on display from 3 October 2024 – February 2025 at NGV International, Melbourne. Photo: Kate Shanasy.

Known for her in-depth research into materials and their industrial systems, Dutch designer Christien Meindertsma is set to unveil a monumental lamb sculpture made from hundreds of kilograms of discarded European wool. First there was a mountain will be the centrepiece of this year’s MECCA x NGV Women in Design Commission, opening on 3rd October at NGV International.

Meindertsma’s three-metre-tall lamb sculpture repurposes wool from over two thousand Rotterdam-based sheep that would have otherwise been discarded. This project not only showcases the designer’s commitment to sustainable practices but also brings attention to the growing issue of waste in the global wool market.

At the heart of this project is a robotic tool dubbed the ‘Wobot’. Developed in collaboration with Netherlands-based machine developer Tools for Technology, this innovative device has enabled Meindertsma to create a felted wool that’s both sustainable and versatile.

The Wobot’s needle-felting technique requires no water and can be combed out, allowing for a completely circular material life cycle. This process offers an environmentally friendly alternative to petroleum-based materials like foam, rubber, and plastic.

Accompanying the lamb sculpture is Meindertsma’s new Wobot chair, further demonstrating the potential applications of this technology in furniture design and beyond. Together, these pieces highlight the versatility of wool and the promising future of sustainable, circular design.

Christien Meindertsma expressed her enthusiasm for the project: “I feel very honoured to have been awarded this commission and am very much looking forward to making a new work. This opportunity will allow me to explore and push the possibilities of wool as a strong and at the same time soft material, in directions it has not gone before.”

The MECCA x NGV Women in Design Commission featuring Meindertsma’s work will be on display from 3 October 2024 to February 2025 at NGV International, Melbourne. It’s a must-see for anyone interested in sustainable design, innovative technology, and the future of materials.

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Christien Merindertsma with the Tools for Technology ‘Wobot’. Photo: Maartje van Berkel.

Left: Christien Meindertsma with the Rotterdam flock of sheep. Photo: Ines Vansteenkiste-Muylle. Above: One Sheep Sweater 2010 Merino flock from the dutch village of AerleRixtel. Photo: Roel van Tour.

[Images courtesy of NGV.]