In Radio EMMA show #6, Charles Esche, director of the Van Abbemuseum, tells reporters Steffi and Anne why he is happy about the collaboration between Design Academy Eindhoven and the museum. He thinks art and design were traditionally seen as separate things, especially in the Netherlands. Art should be about itself, not about society values, nor about politics. The designer was always more solution-directed. A client has a problem, the designer comes up with a solution. This has changed over the last 20 years. Artists are interested in the society, designers are interested in imagination. So why not integrate design into a museum? Listen to the interview with Charles Esche to hear what he has to say about the future. Will there still be design in the Van Abbemuseum?
Joost Overweg: designer and artist unified in one person
We asked Joost Overweg, graphic designer and art academy graduate, what he thinks about Self Unself in the Van Abbemuseum. Joost is known for being very down to earth about Dutch Design and about exhibiting design in museums. Rather than speaking of the designer placing the ‘self’ and ‘the other’ in his or her work, he thinks that designers can simply change roles, and be artists occasionally. “When I look at Erik Kessels’ ‘In almost every picture’, I see art. It has nothing to do with design. Erik Kessels is a designer when he creates something for clients, but when he exhibits a projects like this, he is an artist.” And how does Joost see himself? “I would say I’m a baker rather than an artist. I listen to clients and translate their ideas.”
Explore Self Unself yourself
The exhibition Self Unself still runs in the Van Abbemuseum, until 17 November. No weekend plans yet? Come and see a unique collection of designers’ work in the museum!