Fantastic sea creatures, monstrous beasts, whimsical body shapes and fluid contours that seem to drip like syrup from a spoon: all are manifestations of the ornament style known as kwab, ‘auricular’ or ‘lobate’.
Discover KWAB
Kwab in detail
We invited Dutch photographer Rob van Woerkom to shoot the new exhibition KWAB in the Rijksmuseum. Inspired by The Bronze Idol from the ballet La Bayadère, Rob asked Dutch National Ballet first soloist Young Gyu Choi to pose.
In a spectacular design by scenographer Keso Dekker, famed for his stage designs for the renowned choreographer Hans van Manen of the Dutch National Ballet, the flowing forms typical of the kwab style appear to move and flow like dancers defying gravity.
Photo, concept and execution by Rob van Woerkom
Movie by SkipIntro
![IMG_1847[1]-custom](http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Fg09hvErUMSYkCC3jJK1EqQ_otkN-bWG6lCDrVUojF4Xk1MfxbKannPc0VHXrUtVz-fsFgyDJf3c51RSktd3HOiMklc=w320)
Looking for Kwab
My Daily Shot of Culture and Reinier Baarsen, Curator of Furniture Rijksmuseum, are looking for kwab in Amsterdam. They are visiting De Nieuwe Kerk, Oude Kerk, depot of Museum De Lakenhal and the conservation department of the Rijksmuseum.
