Monique van Nieuwland (Sessional Lecturer and ANU School of Art graduate) has won a prestigious commission to design and weave fabrics for costumes and set in the film 'The Gods of Egypt'. The film, directed by Alex Proyas and produced at Fox Studios in Sydney, will be released in 2016.  

Working in her studio in O’Connor, van Nieuwland wove the samples and prototypes using warp and weft brocade, felt resist techniques on her computer dobby loom, as well as weaving highly decorative fabrics on her Jacquard loom. She is weaving more than 70 metres of various exclusive fabrics.

For part of this commission van Nieuwland has been working with two students in the Textiles Workshop Weaving Studio at the ANU School of Art, giving them tuition and professional experience. Francesca Bleeker and Ruby Berry are involved in the production of woven textiles which will be made into costumes to be worn by the actor Geoffrey Rush. Other textiles will be incorporated into props by designers and the art department at Fox Studios. 

This project provides a wonderful opportunity to make the most of skills and expertise in the Textiles Workshop and use the professional weaving equipment available there. This fully functioning weaving studio is one of the unique facilities at the ANU School of Art.