• Can you tell me about your journey—how did you get into furniture making and sculpture?

My family back in the Netherlands were in the fashion industry and owned retail stores. I did a tertiary training in that sector and worked in mens fashion for a few years. When I came to New Zealand at the age of 21, I soon realised that my passion was in creating and designing objects.

I did some courses and worked in the furniture industry to learn the craft. After a few years I started my own business designing and manufacturing a variety of mostly solid timber furniture which my company sold to retail shops interior designers and direct to clients. It was always exciting with my small team of artisans- we would come up with exciting new product lines which we would than introduce to retailers.

We were innovative and we could quickly react to changing design trends. Later on I realised that my skills and passion could be utilised in a more personal way by creating sculptural work that would entirely be the result of endeavours and interests that I had slowly developed next to my interest in furniture design.

• Was there a defining moment or experience that made you realise this was your path?

The realisation that designing and subsequent making an object came when I realised that I could see a forward movement with this trajectory. By slowly picking up more skills and applying those skills it became a most interesting and satisfying journey. It suited my personality and it became clear that it had a future.

• Did you have any formal training or are you self-taught?

Other than my studies in the Netherlands in the Textile Industry I completed Courses at Unitec in furniture making here in Auckland. I also finished a visual arts course and spent three years at the Corbans art centre. Apart from working with different artisans and artists I picked up a variety of skills just by being in the industry and displaying a constant interest in improving my skill set.

• What was your first piece, and how do you feel about it now?

I remember it clearly.

I had been working for an Antique restorer for some time and used the equipment on hand to design and make a table from scratch.

I remember clearly that a positive comment that I received propelled me to take this direction further.  

• Who or what are your biggest artistic influences?

My creative influences are far and wide. Here in New Zealand I have always been interested in mid century design being Architecture and or interiors, hence my tubular furniture range. Someone that inspired me is the French designer Jaen Prouve a real innovator. 

I lived in France for a year renovating a 100 year old villa- while there I would come across the farmhouse style tables that really looked like they were integral as a centre of gathering for friends and family. I would study the proportions of these tables, to me they all seemed to have a personality of their own.

Another influence is the Bauhaus movement, with its roots firmly in arts and crafts it certainly was a source of inspiration for my sculptural work. Japanese traditional furniture making and crafts in general is also a source of influence, the craftsmanship is legendary and I have enormous respect for their timeless traditions.

• How does your environment—where you live or grew up—influence your work?

I think we are are informed in a myriad of ways with regards to where we grow up and the cultural influence of our native country. I think these influences shape us without us necessarily being aware of it. When we immigrate some of these influences come to the fore in subtle and not so subtle ways.

I always wondered why I was interested in producing tubular furniture only to find out that both the Netherlands and New Zealand have a rich history in this particular field.

With my sculptural work I find that some of my so called relief sculptures resemble mandalas. I like to work in a way where I am open to unexpected surprises and ways of doing things but still find a coherent outcome. With some of my work I am very much informed by geometric shapes and materials that are modern, with my recent Leaf Project made with brass and copper I am more inspired by figurative influences.

• How do you balance function and form when designing a piece?

It depends what I am working on, for instance with my tubular chairs I spend a lot of time looking at designs that show a design language that I can relate to.

I used a famous chair by Jean Prouve as a prototype for a range of tubular chair that I subsequently designed. They are very comfortable to sit in and adhere to all the important aesthetics I wanted to display.

Before I made my first tubular lounge chair the preliminary work took some time but it was worth it in the end.

• Do you sketch, sculpt, or prototype first—or is it more intuitive?

For my Sculptural work I often work on paper sketching and coming up with a variety of ideas that can be utilised and that relate to each other as a body of work. I might come up with ten different designs and than choose the ones that I feel have potential and deserve to see the light of day.

But even after some of the different elements have been cut out or shaped I keep room to add other elements or embellish. Sometimes design solutions present themselves when one is physically constructing and putting elements together.

• How would you describe your aesthetic or design language in a sentence or two?

I would like it to stand on its own feet, with an aesthetic that has been slowly carved out and deserves the light of day.

• What do you want people to feel when they interact with your work?

When it comes to my sculpture I like people to feel that people enter a world that is unfamiliar, a contemplative space that is mostly quiet.

For my furniture it is different - the aim is to create a sense of belonging.

I always relish a conversation about my work but I also realise that most people see and feel something that is unique to them and over which I have no control.

• What has been your biggest creative challenge so far, and how did you overcome it?

I remember I was offered an exhibition at Lopdell house gallery in Titirangi. I had three month to come up with designing and producing six wall mounted sculptures. 

I had trouble initiating the project. Someone I knew at the time said to me, "Just do it!"

The next day I was on my three month journey.

• Is there a piece that holds a particularly special meaning for you? Why?

My Jean Prouve Lounge chair has a special meaning as it taught me a lot. It had numerous challenges as to how to put this chair together in a way that did homage to it's original concept.

It taught me to persevere no matter what.

• Have there been moments of failure or rejection that shaped your current success?

There have been lots of failures miscalculations and setbacks. Every project has its challenges, and why would one take on anything that is like a walk in the park?!

• Where do you see your work evolving in the next few years? Any dream collaborations or projects?

Every piece I finish seems to propel me to the next with lessons learned and a fresh approach to what is around the corner. Collaborating with clients is a challenge but always a blessing rolled into one. 

• What do you hope your legacy will be—not just as an artist, but as a maker?

A creative journey full of twists and turns steeped in what has gone before and what lies ahead...