This week, Bruin Parry and Sander Coers discuss the different layers of inspiration (and lack thereof) and the power of childhood fascination
When I was little, I used to love the Dutch TV-show Bassie and Adriaan. Now I’ve made my work about Bassie and Adriaan. Do you also have a major source of inspiration for your work from your childhood?
Actually, everything from my childhood is my source of inspiration and the reason why I create things. I always had the idea that things were better in the past, and I can even feel nostalgic about perfectly normal things like tying my shoelaces, eating croquette sandwiches at lunchtime or hiding in the bushes from the neighbourhood kids while playing hide and seek. I try to relive all these mundane moments by hiding them in my work.
What does your morning routine look like? What do you do from the moment you wake up until you start work?
When I wake up, the first thing I do is freshen up. I splash some water on my face to wake myself up properly. Then I calmly get dressed and have breakfast: preferable an omelette with tomato and cheese. I drink a special drink for my muscles. Then I brush my teeth, grab my things, put on my headphones to listen to punk music, and go to the studio.
You can draw inspiration from anywhere: music, other artists, a famous director you admire, Lego, dance, your favourite food. What inspires you?
Many things I encounter in everyday life; ordinary moments, but also textures or colours are a source of inspiration. I take photos of these with my phone so that I can look back at them later. Although I am a photographer, paintings, sculptures or a beautiful film often inspire me more. I like to look beyond my own medium, as that is often where the best ideas come from.
Are you inspired every day? Or do you also have “off days”/ days when you lack inspiration? What are those days like for you?
Such a great question. I often think about ideas first, then I get inspiration and turn it into work. Sometimes at the end of the day, I’m really not inspired anymore. I often just dance with my headphones on, nice and loud, and sing along.
You can sort everything in your life: pens, markers, shoes, coats, scissors, food, you name it. In my studio, everything is well sorted. Do you prefer to work in a space that is a bit messy, or do you like to sort everything and keep it tidy? And why?
Everything in my life has to be organised, otherwise I go completely mad. They used to think I had ADHD, and my head is often a real mess. That’s why I make sure my house (which is also my studio) is always very tidy and neat. Things must always be lined up straight and everything has its place. That sounds very extreme, but it’s not that bad! Only when everything is tidy I can achieve a kind of ultimate creativity.
Do you have an important memory that you always return to?
When I was a child, I thought clown Bassie was very funny. He was (and still is) my favourite clown. I collect everything related to them and have my own museum. Every year, I open my museum to the public. When I’m working on this, I always think back to how much I loved Bassie and Adriaan as a child, and still do today.
