An exhibision ‘Op de leest van Jan Jansen - 60 jaar schonen & Dutch design’ has started at Museum Jan in Amstelveen and I am delighted to be able to say a couple of my hats are on display together with amazing shoes created by Mr Jansen as well as works of Dutch fashion brands.
The hats shown at the museum are inspired by Japanese spinning top or ‘Koma’. In Japanese it is written 独楽, which means ‘playing’ 楽 alone 独’. I made these hats during the lock down so it was literally me playing around alone with techniques and colours to make this hat :) I used all felt leftovers after making small cocktail hats. They are assembled with invisible hand stitches. That’s why you see the same stripes but no stitches inside.
Prior to the exhibision, I was asked a few questions by the guest curator about Mr Jansen’s shoes and I answered as below.
1. My connection to Jan Jansen shoes.
Before moving to NL, I used to live in London and would pay monthly weekend visits to Amsterdam. Back then visiting Jan Jansen’s Rokin boutique (and I think I also went to the outlet maybe on Centuurbaan...?) was my uniquely ‘Dutch fashion experience’. I also read a newspaper article that Mr Jansen was always designing shoes with Mrs Jansen as the muse and I found the combination of eccentricity and personal warmth extremely fascinating. I see intense sensitivity of a genius in this combination.
2. What Jan Jansen shoes and demure hats have in common (As you can imagine this question made me feel extremely humble).
Mr Jansen’s shoes are beautiful as objects and the designs are as free as artworks. Yet as shoes or practical items, they are extremely comfortable. In his shoes, the artistic side and the practical side don’t seem to make any compromise to exist together. That’s what I appreciate in his works and I strive to achieve the same. Mr Jansen’s design concept as I see is truly the best example for me.
3. Japanese inspirations in Jan Jansen shoes.
Mr Jansen’s Origami shoes and other Japanese reference of course makes me happy. The hats I bring to the expo are inspired by koma spins and they are, like origami, are traditional children’t playgoods which features beautiful colours and simple yet clever lines. The origin of inspirations make me feel nostalgic yet the fact that it s happening in the Netherlands in 2021 is in such contrast and I am very excited about it.
4. About love for craftmanship in Jan Jansen shoes.
Unique and intricate designs can only be achieved by time-consuming focused work by skilled workers and the results always have timeless values on a personal values (like Mr Jansen’s live for his wife) and reliable durability. I truly hope that this expo will demonstrate the values of such works to wide audience.
For these, the opportunity to have a few of my works at the exhibition makes me feel extremely honoured, humbled and proud. Thank you very much and I look forward to visiting the museum as soon as it becomes possible! I hope to see you there, too...!
