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Studio Nienke Hoogvliet

Made in China

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During a residency in Schloss Hollenegg in the summer of 2020, Nienke Hoogvliet and Tim Jongerius noticed that the collection of Schloss Hollenegg contains many objects and artworks that were made in China. Especially the Chinese objects created in the 18th century were considered to be symbols of wealth and refinement. While today the label ‘Made in China’ often has negative associations, with questionable working conditions and large-scale factories. The designers wanted to challenge this assumption and see how something of high quality craft could be produced in full transparency, in China.

Inspired by the Chinese silk tapestries in Schloss Hollenegg (Austria), they designed a wood and silk cabinet. The cabinet is Made in China, literally as well as figuratively. It consists of a mulberry wood frame and embroidered silk organza panels. The cabinet is a transparant representation of the process through which it was made and the seemingly abstract design of the embroidery is, in fact, a map of where silk production takes place. 

The production of silk can be sustainable and circular: silkworms eat only mulberry leaves that cannot be sprayed with insecticides or pesticides; the silkworms are eaten; the mulberry wood is suitable for woodwork, and it is also used to produce the heat needed for silk processing.

The designers used only materials from the silk production chain to produce the cabinet so that even byproducts would have value.

The Made in China cabinet is part of the permanent collection of Schloss Hollenegg and was part of the exhibition ‘East to West‘ in May 2022.


 

 


We thank the following people who helped to realize this project:

Alice Stori Liechtenstein (Curator)

Hezhi Wang  王贺之 (Chinese project coordinator)

Li Zhang   张丽 (General Coordinator of The Embroidery)

GaiQin Zhang  张改琴 (Embroidery)

YanLi Han韩艳利  (Embroidery)

YingGuo郭英   (Embroidery)

YanYan Liu刘艳艳       (Embroidery assistant)

Junfeng Shi 石俊峰     (Embroidery assistant)

Baiping Liu 刘栢萍      (Silk thread Consultant)

Li Jian   张建 (General Coordinator of The Carpentry)

Changhan Zhou   周长寒   (Carpenter)

Chaohai Che 车朝海 (Carpenter)

Guobing Xiong 熊国兵  (Carpenter Consultant)

Yonghong Shi  史永红  (Carpenter Consultant)

Weihong Li 李卫红 (Painter)

Man Yang 杨曼   (Translator)

Xiaoyan Fee 费晓妍     (Translator)

Peijin Tang 唐培金    (International Freight Agent )

Lei Zeng曾磊         (Internal Transport Coordination)

Pengfei Zhu 朱鹏飞   (National Transport)     (48小时内-2000公里  48h-2000km)

Zhengtao Li 李振涛     (Transportation Consultant)

Zhizhong Xue 薛智中   (Transportation Consultant)

Tao Wei 魏涛           (Embroidery & Carpentry Assistance)

Zhihui Zhang 张志辉    (Embroidery & Historic Culture)

Xujing Zuo 左旭晶      (Embroidery & Historic Culture)

Nienke Hoogvliet (Designer)

Tim Jongerius (Designer)

Laura Ajola (Process movie)

Cedric Alfonsi (Designer)

Nienke Boonekamp (Project management assistance)

Sofie Byriel (Research and embroidery design)

Mathilde Chazal (Concept research)

Evy Cornelissen (Research and embroidery design)

Juliette Corrieu (Research and embroidery design)

Annelie Dalglish (Research and exhibition design)

Adriana Duarte-Costa (Concept research)

Aafje van Grieken (Research and design)

Lorenzo Pedini (Technical design assistant)

Marle Schoustra (Concept research)

Lotte van Uittert (Product photography)

Lianne Vreezen (Research and exhibition design)


 

 

I’m very excited and proud to be nominated for t I’m very excited and proud to be nominated for the Harrie Tillie Prijs 🤩. The exhibition “ Design in Beweging” at the @cuypershuis in Roermond shows two of my projects entire processes from initial research to final product. For SEA ME you can follow the process from my first experiments to our @zee.fier industrial dye and the mini version of the carpet we made in collaboration with @the.knitwit.stable. A journey that took over 10 years! And without the amazing @zeefier team this never would have been possible. 

For RE-SEA ME you can follow our design process with different prototypes, different fish skins and the final fish leather stool that is now for sale (see our webshop!). 

The other nominees are  @bart.lunenburg and @boyscoutdesigner for the Harrie Tillie Prijs and @studiotrulytruly @simone_post_ @studiothusthat for the Limburg Design Award. 

Winners will be announced in September! 🤞🏼

Pictures by Marcel de Buck
Tim and I want to thank all the visitors of “Fro Tim and I want to thank all the visitors of “From Plants to Plastic” on @dutchdesignweek. We received so many positive responses and together with @releaf_by_avantium we were so happy to hear your excitement about the biobased plastic that they developed. So big big thanks!! ❤️

And…no the dress I am wearing is not unflattering, we are expecting a second baby boy in February! 👶🏼❤️ Happy times ❤️

#thankyou #dutchdesignweek2024 #fromplantstoplastic #biobasedplastic #ddw #ddw24 #sustainabledesign #biobased #plasticevolution #pregnant #baby #happy

Picture by @davidvandartel 

@tim.jongerius
We’re thrilled to announce our collaboration wit We’re thrilled to announce our collaboration with @releaf_by_avantium , made by @avantium_ for this year’s @dutchdesignweek! Releaf invited us to design an
installation that not only showcases the origins and benefits of their innovative biobased plastic but also highlights the pressing need for eco-friendly solutions. Our installation celebrates the beauty and artistic potential of this sustainable material.

Join us at Microlab from October 19-27 in Eindhoven to experience it firsthand.

Pictures by @davidvandartel 

#releaf #biobasedplastic #avantium #nienkehoogvliet #timjongerius #hoogvlietjongerius #ddw2024
#microlab #sustainabledesign #CircularEconomy #biomaterials #GreenDesign #DDW2024Innovation #DesignForChange
[WONDERLUST] With our new project [WONDERLUST] fo [WONDERLUST]

With our new project [WONDERLUST] for @wiedewold, we aim to offer visitors a fresh perspective on the value of nature. The furniture is crafted from pine wood sourced from Norway spruce trees. In Echtenerzand, a local natural reserve, many trees of this species were felled last winter due to infestation by the bark beetle. This beetle damages the trees by tunneling through the wood, disrupting the tree’s sap flow and causing it to weaken and die. The patterns on the furniture are inspired by the characteristic shapes created by the bark beetle in the wood.

On the table, we showcase different forest finds, things that surprised us with their natural beauty. Do you ever take the time to wonder about these small details while wandering through the forest? In this exhibition, you can observe all these tiny beauties.

By providing a new perspective on the local surroundings, we hope to stimulate a dialogue about the future of the countryside and the role of nature within it.

A collaboration with @tim.jongerius

Curated by @jorn.konijn and @lisa_hardon

A special thanks to @brunoszenk and @iiadrianaii
[WONDERLUST] With our new project [WONDERLUST] f [WONDERLUST] 

With our new project [WONDERLUST] for @wiedewold we aim to offer visitors a fresh perspective on the value of nature. This woolen cabinet, for example, contains an altar for the local scents. The scent diffuser is made of local sand, ranging from beautiful colors of iron red to soft grey. The scents come from local spruce and juniper. The holder for the diffuser is made from turf. 

The wool comes from a herd of Schoonebeeker heath sheep kept by shepherd Neils Tiktak in Orvelte. This is a rare breed with significant cultural value, and Neils works diligently to preserve it. The sheep are often multicolored, with a distinctive curved nose, long-haired coat, tall legs, and long tail. The wool is washed, carded, and then incorporated into the furniture to honor the beauty of the wool.

By providing a new perspective on the local surroundings, we hope to stimulate a dialogue about the future of the countryside and the role of nature within it.

A collaboration with @tim.jongerius 

Curated by @jorn.konijn and @lisa_hardon 

A special thanks to @brunoszenk and @iiadrianaii
One week until our open studio night and still a f One week until our open studio night and still a few spots available. Do you want to learn more about seaweed, fish leather, bioplastics, herbal textiles dyes, used toilet paper, or one of our other projects? Join our evening! Mail to mail@nienkehoogvliet.nl or send a pm to make a reservation. 

Entrance € 10,-
16 May
19.30 - 21.30
Goudenregenstraat 254, Den Haag (NL)
We would like to invite you to our open studio nig We would like to invite you to our open studio night! On the 16th of May we organize an evening with a lecture, a sample sale and the possibility to ask Nienke all your questions, also about your own project. 

Limited spots available, email to mail@nienkehoogvliet.nl to make a reservation. 

Entrance fee €10,- 
16 May 
19.30-21.30 
Goudenregenstraat 254, Den Haag
Work in progress for @wiedewold, opening next week Work in progress for @wiedewold, opening next week on the 28th of April. More info check wiedewold.nl
[ WONDERLUST ] The countryside embodies tranquili [ WONDERLUST ]

The countryside embodies tranquility, space and conviviality. Yet it recently became a subject of debate and division. With our project [ WONDERLUST ] for @wiedewold we are aiming to evoke a sense of wonder by transforming local materials into an interactive exhibition. What do you feel? What do you see? What do you smell? Can this sense of wonder lead to a renewed perspective of the local environment and thus lead to a greater connection between nature, humans and each other? Opening on the 28th of April in De Wolden. 

#wonderlust #wiedewold #toekomstvanhetplatteland
OPEN STUDIO NIGHT On the evening of May 16th, an OPEN STUDIO NIGHT

On the evening of May 16th, an open studio event will take place. The evening will start with a lecture and showing samples and objects, followed by a Q&A session.

If you have a project, particularly one focused on bio-based materials, and seek feedback, this is the perfect opportunity to present your work and ask for my feedback. 

Additionally, there will also be a sale featuring samples and b-choice products.

Time: 19.30 - 21.30
Address: Goudenregenstraat 254, Den Haag
Entrance: €10,- per person

There are only 15 spots available - email to mail@nienkehoogvliet.nl to secure your attendance.
Looking forward to seeing you there!

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