"...I'm a passionate advocate of incorporating handicraft techniques into industrial production, not because I want to go back in time but precisely because I want to take a new step forward."
- Hella Jongerius
There's nothing trendy about the multifaceted work of Dutch designer Hella Jongerius. Whether it's shoes for Nike, textiles for Maharam, furniture for Vitra or ceramics for IKEA, the common theme in her work is innovation. The key to her process? A passion for the past. One of her many creative strategies is mining history.
For her Animal Bowls, pictured above, she explored the archives of the Bavarian porcelain house Nymphenburg to find source materials for new works that combine unique figurines with classic patterns. Her rigorous, breathtakingly beautiful work - on display right now at Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam - makes her one of the most important designers of her generation.
Hella Jongerius - Misfit continues to Feb. 13 at Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam (www.boijmans.nl). The accompanying book will be available in March through www.phaidon.com.