Press Release

16 January 2010 – lecture

29 September 2009 – publication
The NYTimes publishes an article about the opening of the exhibition ‘Read My Pins: The Madeleine Albright Collection’. The former Secretary of State is photographed while wearing Gijs Bakkers’ ‘Liberty Brooch’ 1998, which also features on the cover of the accompanying book.


19 – 27 September 2009
Exhibition Oude Kerk Amsterdam – Gijs&Emmy

PRESS RELEASE

Dispute over company’s direction cannot be resolved:
Droog Design Founder Gijs Bakker Resigns

Amsterdam, June 20th 2009 - Founder Gijs Bakker has left Droog Design, the internationally renowned design platform, which he launched with Renny Ramakers in 1993. He has also resigned as a board member of Droog Design Foundation. The cause is a conflict over the direction of Droog. A difference of opinion has created an unworkable situation.

Gijs Bakker, “The original ambition of Droog was to identify and showcase talented Dutch, and later foreign, designers, and to stimulate discussion about the real content of the profession. Millions of euros were invested in opening a large, expensive shop in New York - an initiative of Renny Ramakers - while the philosophy of Droog was pushed to the background. The shop in New York implies, almost inevitably, that from now on profitability will depend on the development of only large, expensive products.”

Wedge
“The creativity and originality of Droog Design products have always been a first condition for me. The New York shop means the commercial element is now the main goal. Unfortunately I have been forced to conclude that this has driven a wedge between Renny and my fifteen-year relationship. Regrettably, lengthy negotiations over our difference of opinion have yielded no result,” said Gijs Bakker.

Content
Gijs Bakker, “My role with Droog Design, and also as a teacher at the Design Academy, in Eindhoven, has always been about content. I am proud of the fascinating projects that we have realised worldwide with Droog Design. Many now-famous designers, including Hella Jongerius, Marcel Wanders, Tejo Remy, Richard Hutten and Jurgen Bey, got their big break thanks to Droog Design. In my opinion, we have contributed significantly to a change of mindset in this profession.”

In recent years, Droog Design has helped put the Netherlands on the map. Droog Design has put its stamp on ‘Dutch Design’. There is no doubt that Dutch Design’status will suffer as a result of the break-up.

Gijs Bakker is to continue his work as a designer under the name Gijs Bakker Design (www.gijsbakker.com). At the same time, he remains involved in design education as a director of the Master programme at the Design Academy, in Eindhoven.
 
NOTE FOR EDITOR
This press release is distributed by Gijs Bakker.
Media contact : Charles Huijskens,
telephone 020-6 855 955 or 06-53 10 50 72
Download press release



May 7 – 16, 2009 – workshop
Design in Context: Gijs Bakker will lead a workshop in Taipei on the Taiwanese craft and industry with 20 Taiwanese designers. In cooperation with the Taiwanese Design Centre.

15 April 2009 - Lecture
As part of the SCAD Visiting Speaker program at the Savannah College of Art and Design, Gijs Bakker will present a lecture open to the public on Wednesday, April 15, 2009. www.scad.edu

Legnica Festival of Silver
Gijs Bakker will take part in jury session of 18th International Silverart Competition DECADENCE, organized from the 4th May till 14th June 2009 by the Gallery of Art in Legnica, Poland, in the framework of the Legnica Festival of Silver. For further information: www.galeria.legnica.pl

Lecture by Gijs Bakker - Wednesday, March 4th, 19:00
California College of the Arts
Design and Craft Lecture Series Spring 2009
Since the beginning of Gijs Bakker’s career in 1965, Bakker has sought to free himself from the heavy tradition of the jewellery field, seeking independence both artistically and economically. Without clients and commissions, Bakker could experiment, giving full attention to the concept, and become radical. Bakker was able to reach this freedom by having two directions in his career – experimental jewellery and industrial design.

The natural outcome was a conceptual approach. Bakker developed his own criteria for his work, asking: what is the meaning?, what does it say in the political and social context of today?, and, who is it for?

The limitations within craft, being oriented towards material and technique, do not align with Bakker’s attitude. For Bakker, it is always the concept which dictates the material and the technique to visualize the concept in the most ideal way, based on his subjective opinion, of course.

San Francisco campus, Timken Lecture Hall
1111 Eighth Street (at 16th and Wisconsin)

All lectures are free and open to the public.

Call 415.703.9563 or visit www.cca.edu/calendar  to confirm dates and times.
 
Selected lectures are available at iTunes U: www.cca.edu/itunesu


Lecture by Gijs Bakker - Monday, February 23rd, 18:30
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Gund Hall, 48 Quincy St, Cambridge, MA, USA

Gijs Bakker will give an overview of his work as an independent jewellery and product designer, as an educator at Design Academy Eindhoven, and as co-director of Droog since 1993 to the present.
http://www.gsd.harvard.edu/




Lecture November 27th V&A London
In relation to Gijs Bakker’s work at the Cold War Modern exhibition at the V&A Museum in London, Bakker will give a lecture on the 27th of November, at Metal Rocks, part of V&A’s Friday Late View programme. This evening features different performances talks and workshops about metalwork practice.
The Museum is open between 18.30-22.00.  
www.vam.ac.uk

Lecture: Concept over Craft, 19:00 November 1st, Gallery Deux Poissons, Tokyo
Since the beginning of Gijs Bakker’s career in 1965, Bakker has sought to free himself from the heavy tradition of the jewellery field, seeking independence both artistically and economically. Without clients and commissions, Bakker could experiment, giving full attention to the concept, and become radical. Bakker was able to reach this freedom by having two directions in his career – experimental jewellery and industrial design. The natural outcome was a conceptual approach. Bakker developed his own criteria for his work, asking: what is the meaning?, what does it say in the political and social context of today?, and, who is it for? The limitations within craft, being oriented towards material and technique, do not align with Bakker’s attitude. For Bakker, it is always the concept which dictates the material and the technique to visualize the concept in the most ideal way, based on his subjective opinion, of course.
www.deuxpoissons.com




Lecture 18:30 Friday October 31st at Happa, Tokyo
Gijs Bakker will give a lecture about Droog at Gallery Happa in Tokyo.
 
This exhibition features Droog's unique pieces, on view for the first time to a Japanese public, as well as works showcased at the Milano Salone this year. Their designs reflect various phases of life, carrying strong messages that blend well into our daily life. Among the works on display are a piece that explores the possibilities of newly-invented materials, a simple product in which functionality is refined by an unexpected form, and an artistic work with inbuilt sarcasm.
The exhibition runs from October 30th until November 22nd 2008

2-30-6 Kamimeguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-0051
http://www.happa.tv/


Redlight Design
Droog, the City of Amsterdam and Ymere present Redlight Design: a project that connects the work of seven young jewellery designers with the Amsterdam Redlight area. A full-commitment task since the designers will be living and working in houses that were formerly used by prostitutes. Redlight Design will be open to the public from September 2008 until September 2009.

On the occasion of the Biennale ‘ExperimentaDesign Amsterdam 2008’, the Redlight Designers will dress their windows on the theme of ‘Space and Place’. This presentation will be on display during the Biennale, taking place from September 19th until November 2nd 2008.

Droog Dakar PT2: designing urban trash cans for Gorée
Following the Droog Dakar exhibition in 2007, the Dutch Embassy took the initiative to organize a competition on designing trash cans for the island of Gorée. This Spring, the embassy selected eleven Senegalese designers/artists for the project.

In close collaboration with Droog, a list of demands that the trash cans should meet has been formulated. In July, Droog has selected five proposals that had to be worked out in technical drawings, suitable for prototype production. The jury, under chairmanship of Droog co-director Gijs Bakker, had the following members:
- Hans Jansing, Ambassador
- Augustin Senghor, Mayor of Gorée
- Abdoulaye Sy, representative of the Gorée Department of Sanitation
- Meïssa Tounkara, representative of the Gorée Collectif des Associations

Selected design
The jury came together on September 25th to see the five proposals that were executed life-size by a local manufacturer. The members of the jury unanimously chose Moussa Sakho’s design: an oil drum with a funnel-shaped plastic cover. This design has been selected because:
- it re-uses an existing oil-drum.
- every year the oil-drum can be re-painted by local artists.
- the re-painting becomes a yearly ceremony.
- the funnel-shape looks inviting.
- the funnel-shape works fire-delaying.
- once vermin is in the funnel-shaped trash can, it can not go out again.

The official prize-giving ceremony took place on September 26th. The Dutch Embassy funds the installation of two hundred wastebaskets on Gorée.



30 October – 9 November 2008 – REAL? at Deux Poissons, Tokyo
The REAL? collection moves to Deux Poissons gallery in Tokyo, Japan. The REAL? collection is Gijs Bakker’s latest body of work, an answer to the successful REAL collection from 2004-2006 with ten new jewellery pieces with each an astonishing intervention. A catalogue written by Glenn Adamson, head of Graduate Studies at the Victoria & Albert Museum, comes with the exhibition.
http://www.deuxpoissons.com/top.html


EXCLUSIVE TO THE V&A SHOP

The 'Bracelet with 90 Degree Angle', originally from 1969, has been re-released exclusively to the V&A Shop in London in a limited number of five pieces. The new piece is made from titanium. Measures 103mm(h) x 85mm(w) with 9mm diameter.
shop >>

The 'Point Welded Bracelet', originally from 1966, has also been re-released exclusively to the V&A Shop in a limited number of five.
The new piece is made from titanium. Measures 75mm(h) x 85mm(w) with 43mm diameter.
shop >>

May 20 – June 24, 2008
Gijs Bakker & Emmy van Leersum exhibition
Download invitation here


May 19 2008 20:00 Gijs lectures at Idar-Obersteiner Formdiskurs
Re-Thinking instead of Re-Designing
“Under the title “Thinking – Jewellery” we are trying to reflect upon what jewellery really is. It is an interdisciplinary approach outside the respective categories of handicraft and art, either applied or liberal. It is the search for what jewellery amounts to, not about its appearance…”
Wilhelm Lindemann, Curator, City of Idar-Oberstein
More information can be found at www.idar-oberstein.de/formdiskurs

Benno Premsela Prize
Renny Ramakers and Gijs Bakker were awarded the prize for their work with Droog Design over the last 14 years. Their enormous commitment has seen this initiative grow into an internationally admired label and design platform that has had an enormous impact on the international design world. Their curiosity has ensured that they have constantly re-invented Droog Design and been able to attract upcoming talent.
 


22 March 2008 – REAL? at Galerie RA
On Saturday 22 March 2008 Gijs Bakker will present his new collection REAL?, his answer to the successful REAL collection from 2004-2006, in Galerie RA, Amsterdam. The REAL?-collection consist of 10 new unique jewellery pieces with each an astonishing intervention. A catalogue written by Glenn Adamson, head of Graduate Studies at the Victoria & Albert Museum, comes with the exhibition.

22 February 2008 – Gijs lectures at festival in Budapest
Gijs Bakker lectures at the Dutch-Hungarian Design Festival, taking place in Budapest, on 22-24 February. The Hungarian designers association WAMP & the Dutch embassy in Budapest took the initiative to organize the festival. Their aim is to promote Dutch and Flemish design in Hungary and to stimulate cultural synergy between the countries.

7 February 2008 – Retrospective exhibition in Philadelphia, USA
The retrospective exhibition “Gijs Bakker and Jewelry 1958 – 2005” will be on display from7 February until 18 May 2008 at the Philadelphia Art Alliance in Philadelphia, USA. The work of Bakker not only shows more than 40 years of jewellery design, but also remarkable provocations to the use material, concept and meaning.
More information can be found on this website and on www.philartalliance.org.

25 January 2008 – Gijs’ jewellery on Collect at the V&A, London
From 25 until 29 January 2008 a small selection of Gijs’ work will be on display at Collect, the international art fair for contemporary objects. Galerie RA will show not only works from the REAL collection but also from Holysport and the I don’t drive cars, I wear them-collection.

25 January 2008 – New products of Gijs Bakker during Maison et Objet
For French company ENO Gijs designed four new products: an amaryllis vase, a foldable umbrella, a pair of trousers holders and a handy home base for your mobile phone and keys. From 25 until 29 January these products will be presented at the fair Maison et Objet in Paris. More information: www.enostudio.net and www.maison-objet.com.

5 November 2007 – Benno Premsela Award for Gijs Bakker and Renny Ramakers
The Benno Premsela Award, named after Dutch designer and initiator Benno Premsela (1920-1997), is an award for a person who has played an important role for artists, designers or architects. The Netherlands Foundation for Visual Arts, Design and Architecture (known in the Netherlands as Fonds BKVB) rewarded Gijs Bakker and Renny Ramakers for their work for Droog Design. Because of their enormous effort, inspiration and stimulation Droog Design has grown to an international label and design platform with great worldwide impact. More info: www.fondsbkvb.nl.


19 October 2007 – Xperiment 07 in Australia
Design Institute of Australia, Adelaide presnts the Xperiment symposium taking place from 18 until 21 October. Gijs will take part in the symposium with a lecture and workshop. The lecture will be about ‘re-use’ or a new way of looking at how things are designer. www.deisgn.org.au.

13 October 2007 – Creativities Unfold in Bangkok
During Creativities Unfold Gijs speak about creative practices and the role of design and business. He will also give a workshop for young designers.


Download in PDF >>

8 October 2007 –Ornament as Art: avant-garde jewelry from the Helen Williams Drutt Collection
Some of Gijs Bakker’ most unique work is present in the collection of Helen Williams Drutt. She founded the celebrated Helen Drutt Gallery in Philadelphia, which specialized in contemporary jewellery and ceramics. The book, Ornament as Art, sets standards for measuring the importance of contemporary jewellery as a global art form. It shows the Drutt collection as a whole, with each piece illustrated, and a selection of over 200 objects presented in large-scale illustrations.
www.arnoldsche.com


5 October 2007 - Gijs Bakker represented at the International Art+Design Fair
From 5 until 10 October 2007 Sara Benda’s Afsoun (stand G14) will represent Gijs Bakker’s jewellery at the International Art + Design Fair, New York. More info on www.afsoun.com, Exhibitions.

30 September 2007 – Opening of Ornament as Art in the Museum of Fine Art Houston
The exhibition Ornament as Art: Avant-Garde Jewelry from the Helen Williams Drutt Collection fully explores the impact of contemporary jewelry as a global art form. The goal of the exhibition is to broaden the understanding of contemporary jewelry through a multilayered, critical assessment of the history, issues, and most importantly, the jewelry itself. The work of Gijs Bakker and his late wife discusses the relation of jewellery and the body within the exhibition.
The exhibition runs from 30 September until 21 January 2008.
www.mfah.org

27 September 2007 – Gijs in Michigan
Gijs lectures at the School of Art & Design of the University of Michigan to speak abou thte responsibility designers should take in this world. Michigan Theater in downtown Ann Arbor on 27 September, 17.00 hours.

22 September 2007 – Double Earring in Sweden
The Double Earring from the REAL Collection will be exhibited in the "hnoss depended" jubilee-exhibition in Göteborg, Sweden. The exhibition will be open at The Röhss Museum on the 22th of September 2007. www.designmuseum.se

14 September 2007 - Challenging the Châtelaine!
Maria Callas was Gijs’ muze to design the chatelaine for this exhibition. The special designed earring can be seen at the following museums:

Estonia, Tallinn, Tarbekunstimuuseum from 31 August until 14 October 2007;

Greece, Athens, Lalaounis Jewelry Museum from 1 November 2007 until 13 January 2008;

Belgium, Gent, Design Museum from 9 February until 27 April 2008;

The Netherlands, Hertogenbosch, Stedelijk Museum ’s-Hertogenbosch from 21 June until 7 September 2008.