Art and Object Rotterdam 2021
The Art Rotterdam and Object Rotterdam events pressed onwards this year, from the 1st to the 4th of July. Many were not only eager to explore and visit once again after a year of being restricted to digital events but also sought to understand the interpretation of this period from artists and designers.
Reclamation of physical spaces
The influence and continuation of the quarantine experience were certainly visible in the works present. Social distancing and resistance to make contact with surfaces redefine the use of public space. We are now reintroduced to the public, and we have to confront it. As a result of this, a nu-graffiti movement was brought to life. The phenomenon of graffiti allows the anonymous figure to conquer and claim the public, to make a statement.
Myrte van der Molen explores current social behaviour rules and new ways of socializing in her project SOSocial. Power relations and interactions are inspected in a series of 25 videos. The examples are playful and comedic by the use of objects or costumes. She sees the conventions of social rules with a lack of authenticity and freedom of communication, thus creating visions of the future through stories.
The Scratch Bench series by Rutger de Vries, in collaboration with GjaltProducties, replicates the writer’s bench at 149th subway station in New York. The bench was a space where artists would graffiti, critique art, meet or sign black books. Being a graffiti artist, de Vries promotes this idea. He applies a spray paint coating that allows anyone to scratch, mark, and draw on the bench’s surface.
Absorbing the digital
With the restrictions of public space, digital visualisations have seeped into the experience of the real world. Renders that have represented the real world have a stronger influence on our understanding of the 3rd Dimension. From materials to colourful optical illusions, digital artists and designers collaborate to mimic these virtual environments. Physical objects have become dynamic and superimposed into digital space as extraterrestrial structure.
Azita Saïn and Cuit Studio join together to create a collection of handmade earthenware objects. The Avennor Collection combines Mediterranean culture with subtle everyday living. Despite their roots in traditional craftsmanship, the two studios collaborated with Amber Jae Slooten to create multiple renders of the Avennelle lamp scaled up as a futuristic and exotic intervention
Jasper Udink ten Cate is a creative chef and artist. His architectonic model Future Food City imagines an innovative version of the utopian city. Here, humankind solves its issues in the Western economy by redefining the food system. The city has a digital rendition that is currently being built and has recently welcomed its first citizens.
Crafts revival
In distressing times, we seek ingenuity and peace of mind. The dependence on handmade products during this period stems from our willingness to learn and to have a sense of control. Traditional artisan crafts that were once reduced in worth and restricted to women are now emphasised and developed upon – whether textiles, ceramics, or weaving materials into physical space. At both events, a large number of projects surrounded themes and materials related to craftsmanship.
Chromarama is self-initiated colour research by KUKKA. The project uses yarn windings and bindings to analyse colour blindness and optimal colour selections. Colour blindness typically affects green, red, or blue tones as indistinguishable. The large tapestries explore aesthetics that surround the condition and decorative objects that do not accommodate it. There are subtleties in the pieces that offer the sensitivity of gradients and visual exploration.
Knitting, weaving, and herbal medicine are all traditional crafts that are associated with women. At times and in history, it was suppressed as witchcraft or looked down upon. Liza Prins and Layla Durrani explore this theme in Together in Spirit and Of womxn and other weeds. They recite an adapted 10th-century poem, the “Nine Herbs Charm”. The crafts contain centuries of knowledge that we have drifted far from, ergo Prins shares this again with the audience through text, research, and performance.
Sustainability and sourcing locally
The demand for sustainability in the role of art and design is at its highest yet. The pandemic has revealed our dependency on global trade and the weaknesses that it has on an environmental scale. Localisation of materials was evidently at the forefront of many minds. Studios flaunted their materials: sourced, produced, and designed locally. After a period being isolated and divorced from the outside world, people wish to be closer to nature in all senses. The vision of future living is completely absorbed in an eco-friendly lifestyle.
Occony focuses its sourcing of materials within The Netherlands for a sustainable future. As a furniture brand, they showcased their Peak Chair at Object. It is a fully circular product with materials collected and made from biobased waste streams. Parts of the chair are constructed from coconut hair, recycled wool and waste paper, and a veneer from sustainably managed forests. The parts can be separated easily and are suitable to be refurbished or recycled.
Abel Wolff deals with topics surrounding the spiritual and physical world. Agartha is named after an esoteric view of a legendary kingdom in the core of the earth. Wolff sees these conspiracies as a method of cope with the unknowns. Supporters escape reality by believing in a hidden ‘real’ reality. He depicts this utopian setting as an overgrown paradise of plants, organisms, a miniature village, and flowing water.
Why this matters
People look to designers and artists for creative input. They offer a new outlook on life - to inspire others. Whether they communicate through a functional object or a performative piece, the message comes across. With plenty of time to oneself, an opportunity for reflection arises. Many of us rediscovered the importance of our opinions and values in this period. From this point onwards, there springs forth a chance to recognise concerns and adjust for the future.