OCT 19, 2020<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
Tracey Ingram<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s the second article of a series created in partnership with Dutch Design Week that looks at whether the \u2018new normal\u2019 has brought a new level of intimacy to the studios of creatives in the Netherlands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because of safety measures, self-isolation and social distancing, we\u2019re having to reshape certain relationships. Many of us are having less contact with people and spending more time in secluded bubbles \u2013 on our own or in smaller groups. What does that mean for creatives and the way in which they interact with their audience? Have their relationships \u2013 with studio visitors, (potential) clients and collectors \u2013 become more intimate? Moved from formal and business-like to more personal and close? We\u2019ve partnered with Dutch Design Week<\/a> (DDW) for a series of interviews with creatives in the Netherlands to discover whether the \u2018new normal\u2019 has brought a new level of intimacy to the studio. Kiki van Eijk and Joost van Bleiswijk \u2013 who work both separately, and together as Kiki & Joost<\/a> \u2013 offer their insights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Joost van Bleiswijk works on models for his Teared Ceramic series. Photo: Mari\u00eblle Leenders<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kiki van Eijk pours bases for her Plant Lamps. Photo: Mari\u00eblle Leenders<\/p>\n\n\n\n What impact has the \u2018new normal\u2019 had on you and your business, and the way you run your studio?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n JOOST VAN BLEISWIJK:This year is unprecedented but opportunities often come in disguise. Over the coming months \u2013 and in connection with DDW \u2013 we are opening the doors of our new studio to select groups of people to showcase our new projects. We want to focus on our local community and, through a more intimate and focused approach, build even stronger relationships. We called these winter exhibitions Almost Tomorrow, because change comes gradually. But it does<\/em> come, and no doubt the tomorrow we want is created by strong local communities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n KIKI VAN EIJK:Design is an agile practice \u2013 you adapt quite quickly to constrictions. At the moment, we are reusing materials we have collected in the workshop; we feel the urgency and the desire to use what is around us. \u2018Simplicity\u2019 is the word buzzing in my head. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Has the lack of physical and sensory contact with your pieces affected what you\u2019ve sold or developed?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n JVB: The enduring heritage of craft over mass production has never felt so loud and clear. I hope that buyers, too, will support the switch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n New work in progress: a wall hanging by Kiki van Eijk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How did \u2018confinement\u2019 impact your creativity?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n KVE: Creating and making kept me grounded, and I have never felt as blessed to have my practice to rely on. As one example, we undertook a project of daily making. One Piece Per Day is now a collection of more than 50 handmade candle holders. Making one clay piece each day during lockdown was a restorative practice that fuelled creativity, kept us sane and respectfully acknowledged the moment we all experienced. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Without being present at design events, how do you make sure your work still gets seen right now?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n JVB: We\u2019ve never been those creatives with that bubbling Instagram account full of trips, parties and openings. We\u2019re quite focused on our own making \u2013 we try to stay as far away as possible from trends and we embrace a quite physical approach to design. I think we need to be patient with and supportive of each other. The future is not yet here, so things are changing step by step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n New work in progress: Joost van Bleiswijk\u2019s material collage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Are there benefits that come with the digitization of selling and presentation?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n KVE: Of course there are \u2013 but everything is better in moderation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At a time when design weeks are being cancelled to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus, creative workspaces are open on an appointment basis, with or without design week. We are nowhere without creatives and their workspaces.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Hero image: \u2018At the moment,\u2019 says Van Eijk, \u2018we are reusing materials we have collected in the workshop; we feel the urgency and the desire to use what is around us.\u2019 Photo: Lisa Klappe<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Design\u2019s new intimacy: Kiki & Joost share how the pandemic has made them reuse the materials that surround them Dutch Design WeekEindhovenInterviewNetherlandsKiki & JoostCOVID-19 CrisisDesign’s New Intimacy OCT 19, 2020 Tracey Ingram Here\u2019s the second…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":4960,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4956","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-publications"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kikiandjoost.com\/store\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4956","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kikiandjoost.com\/store\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kikiandjoost.com\/store\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kikiandjoost.com\/store\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kikiandjoost.com\/store\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4956"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/kikiandjoost.com\/store\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4956\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4958,"href":"https:\/\/kikiandjoost.com\/store\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4956\/revisions\/4958"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kikiandjoost.com\/store\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4960"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kikiandjoost.com\/store\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4956"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kikiandjoost.com\/store\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4956"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kikiandjoost.com\/store\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4956"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"https:\/\/frameweb.com\/assets\/cover\/57677_kiki_and_joost_2.jpg\")
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