Discover Eindhoven, The Netherlands in this catalogue of creative happenings
Happy birthday Van Abbe museum!The Van Abbemuseum in Eindhoven has existed for 75 years, which was celebrated on 24 September 2011. Everyone was invited to visit the museum for free. Three exhibitions were on show under the theme ‘Vanuit hier / Out of here’ , where the significance of artists, collectors and city of Eindhoven were central. In addition to these were all sorts of activities and a workshop for pizza baking, theatre, music and circus. ‘Vanuit hier / Out of here’ will continue showing until 8 January 2012. Photo essay by Manon Vosters, on assignment for VersPers.
Observations at an art galleryBy Chris Rawlins, guest blogger
There’s something terribly wrong with the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam. As I went around, I felt it more and more. By the end of my visit, I knew exactly what it was. Van Gogh’s paintings are taking up too much space!
Family chaos theory“I have chosen this image of a weigh scale to sum up tonight’s opening. There’s a sticker on it, saying it’s in working order. This is an example of how we try to use systems and machines to reduce reality – right down to numbers or notches on a scale. But this exhibition shows that real truth is in the detail and diversity of realities.” With these impromptu, wise words, Mary-Ann Schreurs, Eindhoven city councillor for Innovation, Culture and Public Space intro-ed this evening’s Cartridge Family photographic exhibition opening at the Krabbedans.
Telling talesMischa (35) and Nanning (33) Tydeman are at it again. Telling fabulous stories on behalf of four talented ladies who illustrate – Misses Danïelle van Dieten and Smits, Kim Welling and Marieke Coenen. Works by these illustrators are to be viewed for one more chance, tomorrow in Mischa’s apartment, Lichtstraat 2 in Eindhoven. The pursuit of the whimsical, poignant, charming is here in the Netherlands. And that’s thanks to the shy, modest, brilliant, curatorship of Nanning and Mischa Tydeman. I’m not making it up
Springtime in the bagIsn’t springtime wonderful? Don’t you wish you could just bottle it? Or even better, carry it around in (or on) your handbag? It’s soon going to be Easter and I’m fully in the swing of spring and all it inspires. Today I want to introduce you to a fresh and exciting accessories brand, Artessorio. One of its masterminds is Patray Lui, illustrator/designer whom I interviewed in 2010.
Setting up camp, to weather the storms of revolutionIn February this year, Egypt was divided into two camps. The middle east situation was cranking up to critical proportions and the entire world started to speculate – mostly with fear and foreboding. But there is a camp that is flooded in the light of hope. That belongs to Doreen Westphal, who’s designed a lamp which she’s showing at this year’s Salone Internazionale del Mobile until 17 April in Milan, is called “Sunny Spells and Scattered Showers”. It is derived from the first weather forecast given after the ousting of Egypt’s president Hosni Mubarak.
Milan: a drop in the oceanHer name? Mariëlle Leenders. Her company? Curious Collections. What drives her? Easy. That’s “nature”. Her discipline? Good question. She’s a product and experience designer (Design Academy Eindhoven alumni), an entrepreneur, and she is also a photographer and concept designer. Mariëlle needs timelines and the discipline of an assignment – because without it, her natural state is like water. First her creative energy starts to trickle, then it rushes, gathering momentum … and finally it floods every which way until she’s unstoppable. Her dam this time, will be Milan.
Next stop please!“The Netherlands has made a habit of producing some of the design world’s biggest names – Tord Boontje, Maarten Baas, Droog and Hella Jongerius, to reel off just a few. This month, at London’s Selfridges, however, it’s a younger generation that are making their mark,” Malaika Byng, Wallpaper*.
Twisted old ideasHerzensart blog is by Sandra, who makes things from fabric and paper. You can find whimsical, affordable and quite useful (yes, crafty stuff is useful, particularly if you want to be in-the-moment, and get your head out of every day worries!). So, what would be super cute but totally unexpectedly dark and sinister around the festive season-of-light?
Eindhoven’s talents are no wall flowersI’ve been enjoying leafing through the January issue of Wallpaper* mag which is all about the future of design, architecture, cars, cooking, fashion and photography, and am chuffed to see Eindhoven mentioned in it more than one modest time.