Kiki van Eijk says it how she sees it in Moscow

Events / Product design

Kiki van Eijk arrived back from three days at Moscow Design Week with a fresh perspective and a better understanding of how design, the immediate political culture and the public go hand in hand.

By Gabrielle Kennedy /asdf 10-09-2008

Kiki van Eijk thinks it will be ten years at least before Russia’s design scene can establish itself. “It needs design education, more design events and of course funding,” she says.

With only two design stores and no design galleries in Moscow, the public is yet to benefit from the impact contemporary design can have . “Normally when we exhibit in a country the people have a basic understanding of what design is all about,” van Eijk says. “But design in Russia is not big.

“Of course this is understandable. The Soviet era wasn’t that long ago and back then it was about survival. They had to fight just to exist, which is a mentality that spills over to today. For them, design is a luxury and not a priority.

“But it really reminded me of how the Dutch government works so hard to promote design and art. Dutch people are comfortable being surrounded by design in their daily lives. Even in shops like Hema, they expect it and they understand it."

Moscow Design Week was a good start for Russia in its bid to play more of a role in the world of contemporary design. The event welcomed 28 000 visitors who came with curious and open minds. “The people were so enthusiastic,” van Eijk says. “And their interest didn’t appear to be superficial. They really examined the objects in detail and took their time. The language barrier made it hard to really assess what they thought, but they did seem to enjoy it.”

Van Eijk unveiled her new Knick Knack Pots collection, a Japanese inspired bench pot to hide knick knacks in. She also exhibited feature pieces from her Domestic Jewels Collection.

The concept behind Domestic Jewels is that so many everyday and simple things that we have let go of in the name of progress are in essence quite beautiful. The centerpiece of the collection is a high red bench made from textiles woven with text from van Eijk’s grandmother’s olle bolle recipe.

“It is an ode to her hand writing,” van Eijk says. “I found an old book with all these beautifully written recipes and I started thinking how nowadays nobody can write like that anymore.”

This week Kiki van Eijk will participate in Inside Design Amsterdam. She is collaborating with a chef to create high tea specialties served in a series of old and new, green and white ceramic pieces at the Lloyd Hotel.

Later in the month she will be exhibit work at Mint in London as part of 100% Design.

In October she will participate in an exhibition curated by Li Edelkoort in Como, Italy showcasing the work of Design Academy Eindhoven graduates.

Images: high bench and screen from Kiki van Eijk's Domestic Jewels Collection and Knick Knack Pot