In the Noordbrabants museum in Den Bosch ran a very interesting exhibition of the renowned Dutch designer duo Kranen/Gille. Unfortunately the exhibition has ended now, but if you did not have the chance to visit, here you will find my visual report.
The exhibition was one of a series about Dutch Design from Brabant, ‘Made in Brabant’. Both Jos Kranen and Johannes Gille live in Den Bosch, so it cannot be more local for me, and since I love local design…
Dutch designer duo
Jos Kranen (Tegelen, the Netherlands 1977) and Johannes Gille ( Marburg, Germany 1979) met at the Design academy in Eindhoven, where they both studied. They weren’t friends, but felt a creative connection.
They finished the academy in 2004 and work together as an design duo since 2007. In the same year they presented their work at the Salone del Mobile in Milan. After that a lot happened: many art- and design fairs, articles in magazines.. and now their work is produced by different design labels.
Jos and Johannes work together because they understand and complement each other. There are differences in character and personality all the same. Johannes is a patient worker who just keeps on going, who sometimes can’t control his perfectionism. His sketches often can’t be called sketches, but complete blueprints. Jos makes brilliant ‘lazy’ scribbles which can form the basis for a design.
Industrial nature
The work of Kranen/Gille has an ‘industrial nature’. An important source of inspiration for them is heavy industrial material such as oil rigs, dive boats, old mines and shipyards. Impressive constructions that are not made to be beautiful, but to withstand enormous power. Kranen/Gille plays with the shape of these constructions. Also nature plays a role in their work; in the Plant series, metal branches grow into all sorts of designs. The Plant chandelier was especially made for this exhibition.
First solo exhibition
The exhibition The Industrial Essence of Kranen/Gille is an overview of their first ten years as partners in design in the city where they live and work. It is their first solo exhibition in a museum. A mix of prototypes, non-commissioned work and products for design labels illustrates the highlights and developments of the last ten years.
Kranen/Gille are themselves responsible for the design of the exhibition. I think it was beautifully done, very much in line with the style of their work. A simple lay out, clean lines and rough materials..I like it!
more about this design duo check their website
