valerie objects Tray Grey Wood. Dimensions: 40.1 × 38.2 cm x H 2.5 cm.
Dutch designer Maarten Baas is known for his iconoclastic, whimsical creations
that disrupt traditional typologies. Through his controversial experimental
work, Maarten Baas overturns preconceived ideas. He has forged his own world,
happily pushing the boundaries of design to show another reality made up of
strangeness, optical effects, illusion, play. In collaboration with the Antwerp
label Valérie Objects, Maarten Baas has created a complete set of tableware :
objects with assumed irregularities and a „handmade“ feel. As ever, Maarten
Baas likes to jostle the lines, create irregularity and asymmetry to make his
objects more human. Named „Inner Circle“, his tableware collection refers to
our inner circle, those with whom we like to share great times around the table,
as well as the design that’s at the centre of the collection: the circle.
Maarten Baas explains: “I discovered that all tableware is made up of circles
within circles.” Maarten Baas favoured spontaneity over perfect symmetry by
drawing spontaneous, irregularly shaped circles freehand. They were literally
translated into tableware, making these objects the materialisation of imperfect
concentric circles. Each object thus declines the shape of the circle roughly
drawn by hand. In a world where machines are made to produce straight lines,
Maarten Baas' irregular shapes are a real technical challenge to achieve. This
range of tableware favours naturalness and irregular shapes rather than
perfection, communicating an artisanal idea. The asymmetrical curved, soft lines
break with our very strict, linear everyday environments. Far from the codes and
usual wise rectilinear lines, the irregular, imperfect organic shapes, the
rugged contours of these pieces halfway between design and art really stand out.
Once placed on the table, these items inject an unexpected, calm, authentic
atmosphere into the decor.
