tjep: curiosity, nuance and symbolism

Tjep is best described as unusual furniture by an equally unusual pair of designers. On one hand you have Frank Tjepkema, who designed a toilet for astronauts at age 4. The other part of the duo is Janneke Hooymans, who crafted treehouses for children at age 8. Although both are now well into their 30s, Frank and Janneke still exhibit a childlike enthusiasm and curiosity in their work. Above: Table Accident is the “controlled collision of 7 tables” and is working metaphor that symbolizes the different perspectives of individuals in a meeting.

The Chair of Textures is as rich in motivations as it is in detail: designed to directly contrast with purely economical and functional design, this metal chair is laser cut with patterns that include flames, butterflies and flowers. Heterogeneity and dynamism is the ultimate goal here, and it largely succeeds in creating a chair that is overflowing with nuances.

The XXL Chair speaks volumes of Tjep’s abilities to quickly shift from one foot to the other, literally: this organic, almost animal-like chair is designed to make a humorous statement about today’s “super-sized mentality”. Fat-like folds lay atop each other, with a beautiful floral tattoo on a decidedly ugly surface.

My favorite work by far is the Shock Proof collection; while damaged decor is normally sent straight to the trash can, the discarded state actually makes a far more interesting statement. An internal polyurethane rubber layer normally ensures watertightness, but in this case helps to keep the shattered pieces together. As with all of Tjep’s pieces, visual impact is their forte and symbolism is always available if you’re willing to look a bit deeper.
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