Born in Germany and grew up in the Netherlands, Maarten Baas is considered to be one of the most influential Dutch designers of the beginning of the 21st century. Having studied at the renowned Design Academy Eindhoven, he is often described as an “author designer,” whose works lie on the boundaries between art and design. His work is known as rebellious, playful, intellectual, theatrical and artistic, and ranges from conceptual designs, limited editions, production design, installations, to public space, architecture, interior design, theater design, and performances. His works have been collected by Brad Pitt, Kanye West, Ian Schrager, and Adam Lindemann, and are in major museum collections, such as the MoMa, Victoria & Albert Museum, Les Arts Decoratifs, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Die Neue Sammlung, Stedelijk Museum, and Rijksmuseum.
In this Collectible Design Season interview by PAMONO X LARRY’S LIST, Maarten shared insights into his art and design practice: his number-one rule in design, his perceived relationship between art and design, his favorite places to get inspired, as well as the contemporary artists’ work he imagines going well alongside his design in a collector home.
9 Questions with Maarten Baas
What is your number-one rule when designing a collectible object or furniture?
Does it make sense to make it?
What do you think about the relationship between art and design?
Art is the over-responsible, serious brother of its younger, playful and vivid sister: design.
You are often described as an “author designer,” that your works lie on the boundaries between art and design. What elements of modern or contemporary art do you incorporate into your design work?
Expression is always the starting point, so I end up making artworks that happen to be functional.
Do you often visit galleries and museums to get inspired. Which are your favorite places?
In Holland, it’s Museum Voorlinden. Internationally, it’s of course the presentations by Carpenters Workshop gallery.
Nowadays people discover a lot of creations digitally. When creating your works, do you consider how they would be perceived online, e.g. on Instagram or on platform like Pamono?
No, I’m very bad with thinking about what works on Instagram. I just make things for the purpose of what it is for. An exhibition, a client, a public space… If that works well in the end, it might also go around on Instagram, but that shouldn’t be the starting point.
Which contemporary artists’ work do you imagine going well alongside your design in a collector’s home?
Erwin Wurm, Atelier van Lieshout, and Teun Hocks.
Do you collect any artworks or collectible design pieces? What is special about your art and design collection?
I collect works, varying from amateur to real collectible art. It’s very eclectic and collected intuitively. Recently, I noticed almost everything I collect is kind of light hearted or not too serious. I can’t take seriously people who take art too seriously.
What tips do you give to a collector looking for a collectible object or furniture?
Buy Maarten Baas.
What are your upcoming projects that we should look forward to?
A new piece of land in Portugal, where a lot of magic will happen.
All image courtesy: Maarten Baas
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Instagram: @maarten.baas
By Ricko Leung
