"The key is always to keep your eyes and ears open and welcome inspiration in"
Interview with Maarten De Ceulaer
Meet Maarten De Ceulaer, a Brussels-based designer known for the highly evocative, poetic and playful touch he gives his objects. His work tells stories, evokes emotions, and stimulates the imagination. He continuously explores new materials as well as production techniques and crafts. With precise attention to detail, he employs materials in unconventional ways, ensuring that his objects remain both innovative and surprising.
You can discover a sofa from Maarten's Mutation series in our Matching Seats exhibition. MAD Brussels talked to Maarten De Ceulaer about his iconic sofa series, his sources of inspiration and his design approach.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and tell us what inspired you to become a designer?
"My name is Maarten de Ceulaer. I loved being creative from a very young age; drawing, inventing and making things was what I always did. My parents also often took me to museums and exhibitions, which certainly sharpened my love for the artistic and creative world. When the time came to choose a field of study, I first visited the Architecture department at Sint-Lukas. I quickly got the impression that the creative aspect of that profession was quite limited and that there was a lot of bureaucracy involved. One of the teachers there told me that it often takes ten years before a building is actually constructed, and at that moment, I knew: this is not for me - I am far too impatient for that."
"I then decided to visit the open day of the Interior Design department across the street. What i found there was the complete opposite: I saw countless models and prototypes - it seemed like one big laboratory of creativity. So the choice was quickly made."
"I have never followed trends. Whatever was popular, I would turn away from."
Where do you get your inspiration from?
"It can come from anywhere - whether it's a walk in nature, a visit to a flea market or a department store, or exploring other creative fields like architecture, fashion, or the liberal arts. The key is to always keep your eyes and ears open and welcome inspiration in."
Are there any designers who inspire you?
"Yes, there are many, and all for different reasons. Gio Ponti, Achille Castiglioni, Gaetano Pesce, Martino Gamper, Konstantin Grcic,... They inspire me because they all have an impressive career behind them. I consider Martino Gamper to be from a younger generation, but he is extraordinarily artistic, creative, and playful."
What are the designs in the 'Mutation Series' based on?
"During my research, I was looking at microscopic images of bacteria, viruses, and other similar microorganisms, and I was fascinated by how those cells divide, multiply, and continuously grow larger. This inspired me to create a furniture collection that looks as though it has organically grown in this way, rather than being crafted by human hands."
"At one point, I saw photos of Yareta plants in Bolivia. These are very organically growing plants that belong to the oldest living organisms in the world, and they can be thousands of years old. They resemble a mass of cells and have a beautiful velvet-green appearance, which reminded me of flocking - a technique used in industry to create velvet-like surfaces, for example, in glove compartments, etc. This is how the first prototype progressively came to life. Over the years, the collection has continued to grow, and I also often create pieces upon request, tailored to the clients' whishes."
What advice would you give to beginning designers in the industry?
"The most important advice is: try to find your own unique voice. In a world full of inspiration and influences, it is essential to develop your own, authentic direction."
How did you find your unique voice?
"I have never followed trends. Whatever was popular, I would turn away from. I'm not sure if I have found my unique voice yet, but I have always followed my intuition. Trends scare me; as soon as something becomes popular, it feels like it's not for me. Instead, I try to evoke emotions and a sense of wonder."
