berry

dijkstra

in CONVERSATION

Q. What’s your morning ritual?

Getting coffee and going for an early morning walk.

Q. Can you introduce yourself to us?

My name is Berry Dijkstra, I live and work in Rotterdam. I create autonomous work in the form of furniture that is navigating on the intersections of interior, design and art. 

Q. Talk to us about your background?

I come from a middle-class family with one sister and a dog. Each year we typically went to France on vacation, very cliche but that’s how we grew up. 

Q. Where does your love for design come from?

I believe it’s in my DNA. I didn’t grow up in an artistic environment nor did I go to an art school. I really had to develop the skills by myself throughout reading, visiting shows and exhibitions, talkings to designers and simply from getting experience by working in the field of design. 

Q. Where did the idea of stacking furniture come from?

The tipping point to use larger pieces of furniture started when I had to bring together my Pastoe collection for a photo shoot. From there it evolved very intuitively and it felt very liberating to free myself from the status quo and dogma's about interior and how an interior should look and from there I created my own narrative: Form follows fun.

Q. Do you often change your compositions?

I work very intuitively, so whenever I’m in the mood I will change it on a daily basis. However, sometimes nothing happens for weeks, it really depends on how I feel. Besides the arrangement of objects, lighting plays a very important role in my work too. It can really take away the composition to a whole other level. 

Q. Do the pieces dictate the proces, or do you have a vision of what you want to create and choose the pieces accordingly?

The challenging part is that I work with my own collection, so yes they kind of dictate the process. But it always starts with a selection of objects I’d like to use for a specific composition, it organically moves from there on.

Q. Would you call yourself a collector?

Definitely yes, I surround myself with objects and pieces. I buy what I love and not what I need, so it easily stacks up. For me collecting is about creating a personal collection not be led by trends, influencers or ‘fast interior’. 

Q. What are some of your favourite designers?

I have an enormous list of designers I admire. Let's start with some legends from the past: Cees Braakman, Aldo van den Nieuwelaar and Ettore Sottsass. Then you have the household names like Sabine Marcelis, Mae Engelgeer and Odd Matter. And don’t forget to keep your eyes on the rising stars: Willem van Hooff, Paul Coenen, and Dorian Renard.

Q. Are there any specific pieces that excite you the most?

That is impossible to answer. Every piece of furniture and art that I own is bought for a reason : I fell in love with them. I can’t point out a specific item, I’m sorry..

Q. What is your favourite room and why?

The living room. It has the best light, and it is the largest room in the house. I always shoot frontal and from a low position (laying on the ground) therefore I need a great distance from the compositions, which visually works best in the living room.

Q. What is your ‘ go to ‘ for inspiration?

Daily life, trade shows / exhibitions and Instagram. 

Q.  If you could pick a place where you can exhibit your work, where would it be?

I would like to create a gigantic furniture composition at the Dutch Pavilion during the World Expo.

Q. Any exciting projects for the future?

Regardless of the current situation we’re in due to Covid, I am ready to leave the house ( again ). So yes, things are coming up, I just can’t reveal them yet. Wait and see.

Q. Best piece of advice given?

I don’t want advice nor do I listen to advice of others. Find your own narrative and the right people will come along. Oops did I gave some advice myself?