droog

20/09/2024

The BODY HEAT exhibition featured in designboom! 🔥🔥

the body head exhibition at Drool Design’s Amsterdam gallery Curated by Yev Kravt, the BODY HEAT exhibition is on view from September 2nd to October 27th, 2024, at the gallery of Droog Design in Amsterdam, presenting a sensory exploration of body heat and its connection to human emotions. Featuri...

18/09/2024

Artist Yi-Fei Chen is presented with two artworks at our current BODY HEAT exhibition.

This photograph shows us the design for a tear gun. Tear Gun is an art piece that transforms the artist’s tears into ammunition, showing her personal struggle with cultural differences and emotional expression. This work stands as a symbol of converting vulnerability into power.

Tear Gun is a powerful metaphor for turning the emotional pain into a statement of strength and personal agency.

Another artwork is called Ways of Crying (Object 1). It is exclusively ON SHOW at the BODY HEAT exhibition.

True tears flow unpredictably, the artist captures them notably. Inspired by their unpredictability, a tool series emerges for various ways of crying sensation. This necklace serves as an accessory, for public demonstration.

17/09/2024

An iconic blend of less and more. The Milk Bottle Lamp by Tejo Remy takes the familiar shape of a milk bottle and transforms it into a timeless light fixture. Sandblasted glass, a simple cord, and a chrome top—this minimalist design turns the everyday into something extraordinary.

First created in 1991, the lamp has become a classic in modern lighting, now part of prestigious collections like MoMA in New York. Each bottle, suspended on a long cable, embodies Droog’s philosophy of combining simplicity with innovative thought.

Now on show at the Droog Archives exhibitionl💡

16/09/2024

Our exhibition BODY HEAT in the spotlight! We are thrilled to share that our current exhibition has been featured in Het Parool with the title, "Sweat patches and latex stalactites: Body Heat exhibition makes body heat visible and tangible."

Curated by Yev Kravt, BODY HEAT brings together 11 artists and designers who delve into the physical and emotional dimensions of body heat. From Bart Hess' striking latex sculptures to Aukje Dekker's performance, each piece offers a unique perspective on what ignites our bodily warmth.

As featured in the article, Kravt hopes visitors take a moment to reflect on their own bodies and engage in a dialogue, celebrating life together.

We invite you to immerse yourself in this exploration of human connection and warmth. The exhibition is on view until October 27, 2024. Don't miss the chance to experience it for yourself!

📅 On view until October 27, 2024
📍 gallery@droog, Staalstraat, Amsterdam

De tentoonstelling Body Heat in de Amsterdamse galerie laat zien hoe onze lichaamstemperatuur reageert op de wereld om ons heen. Een diverse groepsexpositie waarmee curator Yev Kravt het lichaam wil voelen en vieren.

13/09/2024

As part of the Droog Archives exhibition currently on view at , the Soft Vase and Soft Urn by Hella Jongerius challenge conventional ideas about materiality and design.

First shown during Droog’s Plastics New Treat presentation at the 1996 , these rubber vessels sparked conversations by embracing softness and imperfection. Air bubbles, frays, and visible joints—typically seen as flaws—become defining features, celebrating the process rather than concealing it.

The 1996 presentation marked a moment for Droog, breaking away from the perception of being solely advocates of recycled materials and signaling a commitment to pushing the boundaries of design.

Now on display at Droog, these iconic pieces remind us that beauty can be found in the unconventional.

12/09/2024

Heliographs from the series Anthropotopy by Armen Ter-Mkrtchyan.

Heliography, the first “permanent” photographic method, derives its name from classical Greek terms meaning sun drawing. Armenian photographer creates his own camera obscura by hand to capture sunlight on film. Every image takes approximately forty-five minutes to appear. In these photographs we see reflections of heat emanating not only from humans, but from buildings and our wider surroundings.

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ON SHOW: the BODY HEAT exhibition until October 27th.

11/09/2024

We are in full swing at .The gallery spaces are illuminated by two new exhibitions: BODY HEAT and the Droog Archives. Both exhibitions are intimately linked, each exploring the body and physicality from different yet complementary perspectives.

BODY HEAT delves into the human connection—how bodies generate warmth, presence, and energy, while the Droog Archives focuses on the senses and human interaction through 30 years of radical design. Together, they form a dialogue on how we experience and shape the world, from the personal to the collective.

Step inside, and immerse yourself in this dual exploration of art and design.
exhibition

07/09/2024

For over 30 years, Droog has been at the forefront of design innovation, challenging conventions and reshaping the narrative of modern design. From its debut at the 1993 , Droog’s radical use of everyday materials and its uncompromising vision have secured its place in the collections of , , and beyond.

The Droog Archives is a semi-permanent exhibition that offers a deep dive into this pioneering movement. Through a timeline of projects, iconic photographs, films, and select artifacts, we trace the evolution of Droog, from its early days of Dutch experimentation to its current standing as an international design institution.

In conjunction with the BODY HEAT exhibition, this edition of the Archives explores the relationship between design and human interaction—examining how Droog’s work touches on the senses, from the tactile to the emotional. Droog’s design philosophy is a stayement to the power of ideas and their capacity to challenge the way we interact with the world.

Each week, we will highlight objects from the Droog collection—profound works that, like all Droog designs, invite reflection and engagement. ◻️

In the image:

03/09/2024

Stress — with its positive and negative effects on the human mind, as well as its physical and chemical residues inside and outside of the human body — is a phenomenon that Anouk Kruithof has been interested in for some time.

This series delves into the aesthetic and emotional aspects of human sweat and stress. By focusing on the often overlooked beauty of sweaty armpits, Kruithof transforms a source of embarrassment into a universal symbol of human experience.

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Sweat-Stress by
ON SHOW at the BODY HEAT exhibition

21/08/2024

The summer heat rises our bodies’ temperature and yet gives us unforgettable gusts of change.

A new exhibition is coming soon and we are ready to share the news.

23/07/2024

Discover how the internationally recognized refugee travel document from 1928-1933 looked like before the Nansen Passport goes back to the archives of the Fenix Museum.

The ME/YOU, US/THEM exhibition is on show for three days more.

19/07/2024

Only one week left to see the exhibition and be amazed by how different we look, to smile watching people moving across the street, to admire the Monarch butterflies migration route, to examine military maps, to love the kid that is peeking over the Mexican/US border fence.

05/07/2024

Where individual identity co-exists with a social one, where people manifest to be seen and recognised embracing the diversity of me, you, us, them.

See yourself in the Identity Land coin by .kessels.

Visit the ME/YOU, US/THEM exhibition until July 26th.

02/07/2024

We have enjoyed your participation and interest in controversial yet so inspiring topic the ME/YOU, US/THEM exhibition delves into.

Grateful for the past months you’ve been with us exploring, sharing, arguing, listening. We have saved the feedback you gave us and here are just a few we wanted to share with you all:

‘Very relevant and moving.’

‘Borders are made by people and can also be removed by people’.

‘I’m a pacifist and proud of my country, and I find this show complicated and incredibly powerful’.

‘A generous show with such beautiful things’.

‘Touching’.

‘Powerful art forms that get you into deep thinking’.

‘It is beautifully coherent and well curated.’

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We decided to extend the show UNTIL JULY 26th.

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Visit the ME/YOU, US/THEM exhibition

28/06/2024

The Balot sculpture is a carved wood ancestral power figure made in 1931, an important symbol of resistance of the Pende people against the colonial plantation regime. It is in the collection of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond. In 2020, CATPC asked the museum for a temporary loan of the Balot sculpture.  
 
When the museum initially refused, CATPC claimed digital ownership of the sculpture. A series of 306 NFTs was minted by the artists to reclaim their lost cultural heritage, to take back its power. With its sales the cooperative buys back plantation land, depleted by 100 years of monoculture, to restore the sacred forest of their ancestors by replanting and introducing biodiversity, thus providing autonomy and food security for workers in one of most impoverished areas of the world. Each NFT buys back one hectare of depleted plantation land. 
 
The Balot NFT is not only to be seen as a radical new model of digital restitution, as a new tool for decolonization, but also underlines the political, spiritual and cultural significance of this sculpture to the people living and working on the plantations in Lusanga.  
  
Balot NFT, 2022 

 
Digital video and stills 

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ON SHOW at the ME/YOU, US/THEM exhibition

25/06/2024

A pioneer in the field of food and design, sees food as a conductor, an amplifier of thought.

‘Eat Love Budapest’ was a multi-sensory experience bringing together two strangers for the intimate act of sharing food and being fed. The project emphasised the individuality and beauty inherent in the life of each person, including the nameless ones we may pass each day and those we might group together as being all alike, based on their nationality or appearance, as Roma people have historically suffered in Hungary and elsewhere.  
 
During a four-day performance in Budapest, ten Roma women anonymously shared their story with one stranger at a time, each feeding her guest with her own hands, foods that have personal meaning to her, and recounting memories, songs, and stories, as they sat together. They could not see each other. 

Eat Love Budapest, 2011 
Marije Vogelzang (Netherlands) 
 
Video registration of performance and installation, by Krisztina Árvai-Nagy, Milán Gajdos, Balázs Zajti 

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ON SHOW until 30 June.

25/06/2024

With the last week of June, we are here to embrace all your positive feedback about the current ME/YOU, US/THEM exhibition.

Take a chance to visit the gallery during the last days of the exhibition.

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On show until 30 June.

21/06/2024

The Nansen passport, named after Fridtjof Nansen, a Norwegian explorer, scientist and diplomat, was first issued in 1922 by the League of Nations (precursor of the United Nations), after international agreement, on the initiative of Nansen in his role as High Commissioner for Refugees. From 1922 to 1938, the Nansen passport was an internationally recognised refugee travel document. 
 
It was created in response to the large number of refugees and stateless individuals left without proper documentation after the First World War and the Russian Revolution. The document aimed to provide them with a recognised identity and travel document, facilitating their movement and access to basic rights.
 
The need for a present-day equivalent of the Nansen passport feels greater than ever, yet with a crumbling international order sadly seems further out of reach than in the 1920s. 

Nansen Passport, 1922-1938 
League of Nations 
 
Courtesy FENIX, Rotterdam 

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ON SHOW until 30 June.

18/06/2024

What is the story behind each face? We discussed the famous project Passportraits with the Rotterdam-based artist Efrat Zehavi. She is known for the expressive portraits in coloured plasticine she makes on the spot in public locations. Her themes are origin, family, and migration. Having moved to Rotterdam from Haifa in 2001, she became fascinated by the facial variations within the 170 nationalities surrounding her.

'I want to find out: where are you from? Who are you? Where are you going? For me, asking questions is the best way to counter prejudice. To avoid fearing each other. The portraits are also about overcoming my fear of others.’

Together with curator Yev Kravt, we had the pleasure of talking to visual artist and writer Efrat Zehavi. Efrat Zehavi’s biography features a title that enca...

17/06/2024

The work of Belgian artist Edith Dekyndt has a strong material character. Throughout her artistic practice Dekyndt weaves links between history and contemporary creation.

A flag made of black hair flutters lightly in the breeze above the rocky shores of Diamant, on the island of Martinique. Planted by Edith Dekyndt on the very spot where, in 1830, a smuggling boat involved in clandestine slave trade was met with complete destruction, foundering on the rocks with its hundred African captives. The shot, taken close to the resting place of Martinique philosopher Edouard Glissant, pays tribute to the creator of the concepts of ‘whole-world’ and ‘creolization’.   
  
By filming these softly quivering strands of hair, Edith Dekyndt created a subtly moving ‘still life’, whose meditative, hypnotic character lends it a universal, iconic quality that facilitated its adoption, in another context, as emblem of a contemporary resistance movement. 

Ombre Indigène – Part 2, Martinique, 2014 
 
Video projection  
Courtesy Museum Voorlinden, Wassenaar 

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ON SHOW until 30 June.

14/06/2024

We had the pleasure of talking to Danae Stratou, an installation artist from Athens, about her work 'Cut 7 — Dividing Lines' that is now on show at the ME/YOU, US/THEM exhibition.

What was the idea behind the artwork and how many months did it take to visit all the dividing lines? Watch the full conversation by the link below.

Together with curator Yev Kravt, we had the pleasure of talking to visual artist Danae Stratou. Greek artist Danae Stratou creates large-scale installations ...

12/06/2024

On June 27, we organise an exploratory talk, where Farid Tabarki will go in conversation with Koert Debeuf (professor of Middle East Studies, author of the book ‘Tribalization: Why War is Coming’) and Naeeda Aurangzeb (journalist, author of the book ‘365 dagen Nederlander’). They will explore the (historical) need for a clash of ideas partly powered by a multitude of identities.

How successful are we in this day and age in creating the right amount of clashes? And what is needed to make these a two-way street instead of a zero-sum game?

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The talk will be in Dutch. Number of tickets is limited.
Book your spot by the link in bio.

12/06/2024

Visual artist and writer Efrat Zehavi is known for the plasticine portraits she models on the spot. Her themes are origin, family, and migration. Having moved to Rotterdam from Haifa in 2001, she became fascinated by the facial variations within the 170 different nationalities surrounding her. This led her to develop Passportraits, an ongoing traveling performance.

For Passportraits, makes plasticine portraits of people she encounters in public places like a park or library. She engages them in conversation, and while she gets to know the person opposite her, the portrait takes shape. Passportraits reflect the mix of identities that we encounter on the streets every day.

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Passportraits, 2007–present
Efrat Zehavi (Netherlands)

Sculptures, plasticine

ON SHOW until 30 June.

07/06/2024

Austrian architect, designer, and writer Theo Deutinger is known for projects that cut across geopolitics, urbanism and architecture. His ‘Handbook of Tyranny’ contains a relentless and unflinching documentation of the architectures and technologies that create spaces of terror and oppression in today’s world: refugee camps, prisons, slaughterhouses and migration control systems.

For this exhibition, created an animation that brings the walls and fences he had drawn to life. He formed a unified line out of all the fences across the world showing those borders can differ by height or design but they are all walls at the end.
 
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Walls and Fences, 2018 
Theo Deutinger (Austria) 
 
Animation based on book 
Lars Müller Publishers, Zürich 

ON SHOW until 30 June.

06/06/2024

The ME/YOU, US/THEM exhibition will be open until 30 June. We talk about borders, not only physical but mental as well. We discuss the migration and national anthems, using apps such as Tinder and personal borders we put while talking to other people. We follow the journeys of those who cross the borders and watch those who leave on both sides of the dividing lines.

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Join us for a guided tour with on Saturday, 8 June at 13:00.

28/05/2024

In his video , an independent fashion curator and creative director, co-founder of the Next Collective, aimed to show the diversity and richness of Africa and African fashion, and thereby underline that there is not, and has never been, one singular African look or style.

56 fashion designers, one from every country of the African continent and one from the diaspora, each provided a look for one of 56 models scouted in São Tomé. Together, they participated in a performance connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the city of São Tomé, starting at dawn. 

The video presents unique designs from all 55 African countries and one to represent the diaspora.

‘One look per country is just a glimpse, and in beginning to see African fashion fully, we must begin to enter with depth as well. You know the saying “it takes a village” – well, this will quite literally take a Continent!’ 

‘In Their Finest Robes, The Children Shall Return’, 2019 
Sunny Dolat & The Nest Collective (Kenya) 
 
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*Performance, video by Noel Kasyoka 

ON SHOW until 30 June.

28/05/2024

Is it only ME and YOU, or US could co-exist with THEM?

Come and visit the ME/YOU, US/THEM exhibition with artworks by 20 international artists.

We are open daily 11:00-17:00.

Left to right: plasticine portraits , video & , video , NFT piece , photo .

Photo

20/05/2024

‘We put our life in the hands of the apps. Online life is partly written messages and conscious constructing of yourself. It’s dysfunctional, it’s going too fast, it’s too efficient for us as humans’. 

‘Our Cold Loves’ video by examines the quest for love and intimacy through dating apps such as Tinder. Using apparently unrelated dialogues, Ariane Loze creates a storyline in which 22 different online characters, each in their own way, show vulnerability in their search for affection and intimacy.
 
Her work investigates the mechanisms driving the apps and the illusion of love they are based on, such as the underlying algorithm based on a competitive point system (Elo-rating) for matching people. 

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*Courtesy of the artist and Gallery Michel Rein Paris / Brussels  

ON SHOW until 30 June.

13/05/2024

Francis Alÿs is represented by two works at the ME/YOU, US/THEM exhibition.

The installation Untitled (Geographies)* consists of a collection of small-format paintings which depict fragments of military maps. They show lands separated into two zones of different colours, green and yellow. Each zone bears a word that is antagonist to the other, creating a dialectic couple, such as Unknown/Known, Us/Them and Leave/Return. These oppositions show how conflicts till today structure the geopolitical realities that shape countries. It is a way to underline that the psychical limits of nations should still be considered as abstractions. 

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In the performance ‘When Faith Moves Mountains’, Francis Alÿs and five hundred Peruvian volunteers tried to do the impossible: move a mountain 10 cm. The performance took place on a massive sand dune in the outskirts of the of Lima, Peru. The work is a metaphor for Latin American society, in which minimal reforms are achieved through massive collective efforts. At the same time, it was meant to be a sign of hope in a country in a political crisis.  

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*Courtesy FENIX, Rotterdam 

ON SHOW until 30 June.