MILAN THE SALONE

hungry eyes #milan2015

Interview series PROOFFLab Magazine curated by Studio Makkink&Bey - Mario Minale - Photo by Lonneke van der Palen

 

We are happy to share an interview series by PROOFFLab Magazine:

 

PROOFFLab Magazine, curated by Studio Makkink&Bey, is a new professional magazine that aims to define the future working culture. During the Salone del Mobile chief editor and curator Jules van den Langenberg portrays various Milan exhibitors in a series of short interviews about their work. “Counterbalancing the object centred press kits, that mainly feed us with contextless products, we decided to focus our eye on people in their Milanese exhibition surroundings. Capturing work-related postures and activities in a series of still life images by young photograher Lonneke van der Palen.

 

www.proofflabmagazine.com

 

www.julesvandenlangenberg.nl

 
 

Keystones by Studio Minale-Maeda

 

An interest in the effects of consumerism and the possibility of mass producing objects with cultural qualities lies at the base of the Keystones project that Studio Minale-Maeda pre- sented at Atelier Clerici in the centre of Milan during Salone del Mobile. We found Mario Minale working on his laptop, using his ‘Keystones’ bench and table in the Italian palazzo: “Keystones reduce the design of a piece of furniture to a single connector – a compact piece that can be 3D printed on-location.

The keystone holds together the various components of a given piece of furniture, which need mini- mal fabrication, either through basic tools or ready materials like from a home improving store, without the need for joinery skills. Only the most essential part of the furniture needs to be shipped, the rest can be made from the materials at hand. The project investigates the potentials of multi- directional material translations, from digital to analogue to building-block construction, open-source schematics ranging from Gerrit Rietveld drawings to the online Lego community, and novel forms of distribution such as down- loadable design.”

 

Feast your hungry eyes on images of the project

Chief editor Jules van den Langenberg versus designer Chris Kabel

 

First thing you do on a regular workday?

Revel in the calm before things get going, then something challenging that gets your brain focussed.

What’s the best part about being a designer?

You know how things work and can imagine changes.

Who or what are the keystones of your life?

My curiosities that drive me.

How was your first experience with 3d printing?

Very disappointing: unit mismatch so everything was too small, broke and got lost. I found it fascinating as an idea but I thought it is a terrible material, without qualities, only suited for gimmicks. That tension motivated me to keep exploring.

If you could sing a duet with anyone, who would it be?

I’d want to be in an early 1980s DC punk band – naive, hon- est, pure rebellion – the promise of taking the future into your own hands.

If you had a tattoo, where would it be?

Somewhere where I cannot see it myself and where it changes shape, like on my elbow.

What’s your favorite plastic product?

Anything modular-systematic-mass produced, as precise as possible: a lego brick, a disposable coffee cup.

If you had one superpower, what would it be?

On good days: knowing the future, on bad days: mass-ma- nipulating people.

Last thing you do on a workday?

Finish with energy left to go on the next day.

 

Interview series PROOFFLab Magazine curated by Studio Makkink&Bey - Chris Kabel - Photo by Lonneke van der Palen

Glazed Brick Bench by Chris Kabel & St. Joris for Label Breed
 
A new label that focusses on establishing and guiding col- laborations between designers and manufacturers invited designer Chris Kabel to work with ceramic tile producer St. Joris, resulting in a modulair bench which was exhibited in Ventura Lambrate in Milan; “Ceramic house St. Joris and designer Chris Kabel have combined their skills and production techniques to create a bench using glazed brick. By perfectly cutting the brick to Chris’ specifications, St. Joris has manufactured benches that fit together to make unique shapes. Kabel is always looking for new techniques and materials to apply to his designs in startling, eye-catching ways.
 
The team at St. Joris has worked together for years to become experts in crafting incredibly complex bricks in colors and forms that inspire the building process. Mixing experience with the latest tech- niques, St. Joris ensures that each brick is hand created with individual attention and first-class craftsmanship.”
 
Feast your hungry eyes on images of the project

Chief editor Jules van den Langenberg versus designer Chris Kabel
 
First thing you do on a regular workday?

Shower with Dr. Bronners Peppermint soap. The mint in there is so strong it wakens up your skin like a birch beating sauna massage.

What’s the hardest part about working with an industrial producer?

That I never really have enough time to hang out in the factory for a longer period of time, to get bored, talk to the employers, discover hidden treasures, operate the machines, make trivial things of the leftovers or the failures etc.

Under what kind of roof do you live?

A very long one, it’s part of an appartment block from the 30’s along a wide canal in Rotterdam.

If you could sing a duet with anyone, who would it be?

A hummingbird? Im such a bad singer I’m afraid nobody wants to sing with me…

What’s your favorite brick building?

An ancient ruin very near the house where i grew up (ruin of Brederode in Bloemendaal) its this beautiful combina- tion of iron walkways that transverse a very 3 dimensional landscape of bright red completely eroded bricks walls that once were the more than 1m thick walls of the fortification/ castle built by a 13th century lord that once ruled that part of holland.

If you had a tattoo, where would it be?

Tattoos are really not my thing but if I had to choose it would be the color and shape of a freckle on a place that that only i can locate. Especially in summer it would be invisible because then they pop up everywhere on my body.

Last thing you do on a workday?

Kiss my love goodnight.

 

 

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Daylit by Aliki van der Kruijs at Dutch Invertuals

 

Collective Dutch Intertuals presented several new projects of various designers on a remote location during Salone del Mobile. Contextual designer Aliki van der Kruijs joined the collective and presents her project ‘Daylit’ within their Body Language exhibition. In general van der Kruijs’ work ex- plores the relationship (context) between colour, culture and environment with a specialisation in textile. Nature is mate- rial and subject at the same time.
 
During the master Applied Art at the Sandberg Institute (2012) Aliki juxtaposed her graphic- and fashion design background into a practice where textile as information-carrier plays a fundamental role. “Equally versatile as the precious rays of the sun, the textile objects I developed for Daylit consists of a monolayer of microscopically pieces of glass and are treated by hand with transparent ink to emphasize the retro-reflexive quality. Because of its rhythmic texture, the product will look unique from every angle, allowing the onlooker to bathe in a glow quite like sunlight.”
 
Feast your hungry eyes on images of the project

Chief editor Jules van den Langenberg versus contextual designer Aliki van der Kruijs
 
First thing you do on a regular workday?

Make a pot of tea.

What’s the hardest part about being a designer?

Earning enough money to pay all the bills.

What role does context have in your work?

I need and use the context to react upon, to turn around, to make links in between and with the given information. The context is the starting point to build a framework from where I design.

What’s your favorite weather type?

Bright blue skies with big white cloud formations on a medium windy day.

If you could sing a duet with anyone, who would it be?

Tina Turner.

If you had a tattoo, where would it be?

On my right underarm near my elbow.

How often do you check the weather forecast?

Rarely. I more often listen to weather talks in public between people.

If you had one superpower, what would it be?

To fly.

Last thing you do on a workday?

Close my laptop and clean my desk.


 

Interview series PROOFFLab Magazine curated by Studio Makkink&Bey – Thomas Eyck – Photo by Lonneke van der Palen

 

Thomas Eyck presents ‘Bottom Ash Observatory’ by Christien Meindertsma

 

As publisher and distributer of characteristic and exclusive contemporary design products Thomas Eyck presented the latest work of Christien Meindertsma at Gallery Rossana Orlandi during the Salone del Mobile. We found Eyck flip- ping through the book Meindertsma made for his t.e. label: “ In her encyclopedic book Bottom Ash Observatory and the 6 limited art prints, Christien Meindertsma takes the reader on a 160-page expedition through a bucket filled with 25 kilos of bottom ash, showing the astounding rich- ness and value of this material. The contents of this bucket are the residue of 100 kilos of incinerated household and industrial waste: the “waste of waste.” By sieving, drying, laser-analyzing and separating tens of thousands of pieces by hand, Meindertsma succeeded in extracting numerous materials. She melted down the 12 most valuable materials – including zinc, aluminum, and silver – to pure cylinders, creating a line chard showing the richness of the bottom ash.
 
The process of adding value to waste by separating it is rapidly innovating, and Meinderstma illustrates where this rich urban ore deposit can lead us.The author commissioned photographer Mathijs Labadie to capture every step of this process in minute detail. As his telescope-style lens zooms in on the bottom ash, the chunks of material assume the appearance of comets and meteorites. The buckets contain- ing the sieved bottom ash take on the guise of planets, while even the cylinders of the valuable materials are planetarium- like in their mystique and grandeur.
 
The precision with which Meindertsma and Labadie record the dissection of the bottom ash harkens back to the eighteenth-century travel narratives depicting newly discovered raw materials with scientific accuracy – complete with tip-ins and fold-out illustration. In 2015, of course, we no longer need to set out on a journey for new materials – our challenge today is to find new uses for local resources. This book demonstrates the infinite versatility of the resource that is bottom ash.”

 

Feast your hungry eyes on images of the project

Chief editor Jules van den Langenberg versus design publisher Thomas Eyck
 
First thing you do on a regular workday?

Smoke a cigarette.

What’s the hardest part about being a design publisher?

Answering all the emails.

Do you separate your trash?

Yes.

What’s your favorite second hand object?

A cookie can, made from earthenware with a silver lid. When visiting my grandmother as young child I was always waiting when she would give me a cookie out of this can, which she backed herself. In fact the main reason for my visits.

If you could sing a duet with anyone, who would it be?

Stromae.

If you had a tattoo, where would it be?

On my breast.

What’s your favorite waste of time?

Smoke a cigarette.

If you had one superpower, what would it be?

The power to stop smoking.

Last thing you do on a workday?

Smoke a cigarette.

 

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The selfie project by Kevin Gouriou and Calypso Mahieu at ECAL exhibition Photo Booth
 
A line of Chinese visitors is blocking the way in the ECAL Photo Booth exhibition space, anxietiously awaiting their turn to try out various new selfie tools. At their own risk visitors install their smartphones on archery like constructions and take pictures of themselves. ECAL student Kevin Gouriou talks about the renewal of the cult of the selfie: “I worked on the Selfie project with the young and talented photographer Calypso Mahieu, from the beginning we wanted to create something mechanical, in movement, to interact with the process of taking a picture. As you know in photography the idea of speed is important. The first machine we made is The Reducer. A crane, that moves from down to up to create a vertical panorama of you. The idea came after having watched the movie Léon, The Professional (with Jean Reno and Natalie Portman) where Mathilda is introduced thanks to a vertical panorama.
 
Playing with this vertical panorama, and the speed of the crane, we discovered we could transform the picture. The second machine is The Vortex. An installation that makes your phone turning using a drill as motor. The result is really funny, the speed of the drill distorts the image creating a vortex (or washing machine!) effect. I have to say that I have been surprised to see the enthusiasm of the public for this machine. The last machine is a collection of guns, to shoot pictures using different movements (rotation, zoom, trigger). Recognizing the popularity of the selfiesticks, that you can buy almost everywhere, we wanted to propose new ways to take selfies, and we wanted to play of course. With The Shotgun, you really shoot your selfie thanks to a trigger, The Spyangle shoots a picture around the corner, with The Zoom you surprise (sometimes scare) your friends with the unexpected movement of your phone, The Rotator makes a 360° picture or video. The DIY fabrication of our machines makes the machine more understandable for the user, also the plans for building the new selfie tools is available on our webpage.”
 
Feast your hungry eyes on images of the project 

Chief editor Jules van den Langenberg versus ECAL design student Kevin Gouriou
 
First thing you do on a regular workday?

I ride my bicycle!

What’s the hardest part about being a design publisher?

Staying yourself.

How was the collaboration process between you and photography student Calypso Mahieu?

We spent a lot of time fighting, the research was really long and demanding. Ending with taking the picture with a smartphone was unexpected. When we finally both agreed on this, the fun part has started! We have found a good rhythm and way to work with our different skills, to build the machines and communicate on the project.

What’s your favorite type of selfie?

The failed selfies. Last easter holiday I went to Le Mont Saint-Michel (France) with a friend, we made a successful unsuccessful selfie where we don’t even see the monument!

If you could sing a duet with anyone, who would it be?

Marylin Monroe! Since I’ve watched “Some like it hot”.

If you had a tattoo, where would it be?

Under my foot, so I could see it when I run on the beach.

Whats the most positive thing of the cult of the selfie?

The self-mockery. It’s important to not take it too seriously!

What needs to be improved?

Finding a way to not look stupid doing a selfie maybe!

Last thing you do on a workday?

I ride my bicycle!

 

Interview-series-PROOFFLab Magazine curated by Studio-Makkink&Bey-Photo-by-Lonneke-van-der-Palen

 

Rugs by Dienke Dekker for Kinnesand Swedish/German textile producer
 
Kinnesand presented various new rugs and curtains in Milan, however the adventure they undertook with young textile designer Dienke Dekker should be considered as their bravest and most interesting investment. Dekker has a strong emphasis on experiment with materiality and techniques, focusing mainly on textiles. A year of intensive yarn design and weaving led to four new rug designs: ‘Tassel’, ‘Bond’, ‘Flux’ and ‘Twist’. They are part of Kinnasand’s ‘Faces’ collection 2015. “A fusion of modern and nomadic, the new carpets in the Faces collection push the boundaries of carpet design. Characterised by a strong graphic approach, they unite tactile, intricate surfaces and intriguing contrasts between different colours, yarns, materials and proportions ‘Bond’ integrates different proportions of yarns to create new colour spectrums. Woven in tightly combed bunches using two differently coloured fine woollen yarns, BOND features a graphic colour gradiation that plays across its surface.
 
‘Flux’ incorporates the best of two worlds. FLUX has a rich melange body consisting of different naturally coloured wool yarns and hand-dyed, delicate fringes. These feature a striking colour gradiation and are dyed according to the tie-dye technique – an ancient process that captures the full beauty of the dye. ‘Tassel’ incorporates the best of two worlds. FLUX has a rich melange body consisting of different naturally coloured wool yarns and hand-dyed delicate fringes. These feature a striking colour gradiation and are dyed according to the tie-dye technique. ‘Twist’ offers a charismatic interplay of minimum and maximum effects. TWIST has a bold geometrical grid with a black-and-white melange edge. It is constructed in two layers with a thin and crispy, bright-coloured yarn randomly twisted with a thick, felted wool yarn.”
 
Feast your hungry eyes on images of the project

Chief editor Jules van den Langenberg versus textile designer Dienke Dekker
 
First thing you do on a regular workday?

Opening the curtains.

What’s the hardest part about being a designer?

Haven’t noticed any yet, I enjoy my job very much.

How did the commission with Kinnasand start and what was the work process like?

Isa (creative director Kinnasand) saw my graduation work in Milan 2013 and contacted me. Short after we met and just started. I do a lot of hand work as weaving and painting and once in the time we meet and discuss how to continue. Isa has always a bright and sharp look on things so her feed- back is very helpful and valuable to me.

What’s your favourite material?

I can’t choose! Depends on the context.

If you could sing a duet with anyone, who would it be?

Annie M.G. Schmidt (if she was still alive) or could it also be a textile duet? Than it would be with Daniel Costa!

If you had a tattoo, where would it be?

I don’t want to adjust my skin.

Which textile hand craft techniques do you master?

I don’t master anything yet, but I have experience in weaving, knotting, knitting and yarn making.

If you had one superpower, what would it be?

Travel in time.

Last thing you do on a workday?

Having tea.


 

Interview-series-PROOFFLab-Magazine-curated-by-Studio-Makkink&Bey- Camille-Photo-by-Lonneke-van-der-Palen

Encore Custom Carpets by Camille Riboulleau
 
Walking through the Ventura Lambrate area we meet Camille Riboulleau who developed an intriguing carpet production method using only yarn and velcro. His ‘Encore’ project enables on site producing woolen carpets: “the project Encore questions the format of our raw materials. The industrialisation of a material is responsible for its shape and therefore influences its use. The finished object is always a consequence of the starting format. As a designer, I like to question this starting point- the material and its format- and wonder how simple the end result could be. Leaving the question of the technique aside, I allow myself to play with the material as I pick it up at the factory.
 
As a child I multiply the entity to a mass: the surface. I realised once I had my first prototype that this way of making a sur- face would leave us a lot of freedom concerning the shape and the adaptability to our homes. The starting point of this project is an industrialised thread, but the result is a very versatile woolen surface made for our homes.
 
What we call a carpet is after all a surface, we consider this woolen thread as a micro surface, wich we accumulate with- out limit. Encore does not belong to a system anymore. Carpet Repeat isn’t rectangle but can extend and adapt to our homes. Instead of buying a carpet in a shop with a defined format, Encore can be made on spot and follow your wishes. Endless woolen or cotton threads from the roll are used to create the shape. The surface holds together thanks to a felting technique, without any other material.s As an endless matter, repeat can also be extended to wall surfaces or interacts with the architecture as a self standing space divider. An object that can extend to the domestic space and become a micro architecture, the carpet isn’t a carpet anymore, but a surface to play with in our interiors.”
 
Feast your hungry eyes on images of the project

Chief editor Jules van den Langenberg versus designer Camille Riboulleau
 
First thing you do on a regular workday?

Drawing!

What’s the hardest part about being a designer?

Step aside and look at my work from another angle, with another pair of eyes.

How did you develop the project?

The project started one afternoon playing with an endless woolen thread, developped intuitively by playing with different languages. I rarely draw before I do, I have something in my head and I try it, often this spontaneous way of action is fruitful for me.

What’s the ideal context for your carpets?

I want to create a context with my carpets, I want them to grow over the walls and ceilings, to be a micro architecture. the goal of the project is to work « sur mesure » with the architecture and the furniture of my clients.

If you could sing a duet with anyone, who would it be?

I sing in front of my work when i have achieved something particularly new.

If you had a tattoo, where would it be?

It would cover my entire hand, as if I dipped it.

If you had one superpower, what would it be?

To duplicate myself, so I could do much more with the same brain.

Last thing you do on a workday?

I don’t know what a workday is, its a broken rhythm, I cannot really stop.