Page 7 - Magazine Karel Martens

to be strong? Does it need a dustjacket? That is lead type. I’m not a traditionalist!
simply impossible. But I think something like that Running the screenprinting lab one day a
would be the ideal situation, to ask a series of week, causes me to stay open minded and
questions that have not yet been answered by flexible. Sometimes I think I get more out of it
many others already. that the students I work with…
Do you feel limited by tradition then? For me teaching is very important as well.
No, to me it’s a point of reference. In that sense Without teaching, this book (Printed Matter)
I’m a Darwinist. I believe in evolution, more than might never have been published. I very much
in in revolution. Look at the introduction of the enjoy the interaction with students. Despite my
Macintosh, bringing new technical possiblities busy schedule, going back and forth to Arnhem
that thoroughly changed the graphic design to be at the WT gives me a shot of energy. It’s the
trade. But still, you’re relating to Piet Zwart and same questions all over, but each generation has
everything that came before and after. a new ways to find an original answer to them.
How do your students at the Werkplaats It’s very rewarding to see that happen.
Typografie relate to that? You often collaborate with students, as
Of course this is different for each individual, you do designing the OASE series. In fact
but it’s obvious that there’s a strong demand for the original concept of the WT was based on
information. Take a golden oldie like Sandberg… the idea of tutors and students working side
Students sense there’s something original and by side. At the moment Karl Nawrot (a former
sincere about him and his work, something WT student) is busy in your studio. What are
organic… Which causes us to have an earlier you currently working on?
publication translated in English. Karl collaborated with me executing the
Architecture As Craft project (2009), but we’re
“I like to believe in currently occupied with making French balconies
an organic course of for a new building by the Austrian architects
events.” Baumschlager Eberle in IJburg (new citydistrict
in Amsterdam), as well as wall decorations. Our
It’s about permanently questioning history. In initial proposal to add type to the building was
regard to evolution, I grew up as a modernist, declined, so that is why we came up with a more
and I’ve always felt as a socialist. Still do. As abstract design using pixellike shapes.
long as the world is not a perfect place, things To what extend do you follow your ex-
will have to change. Nobody will benefit from students?
preserving the status quo as this will only lead I like to believe in an organic course of events. I
to decay. So, in order to achieve a better life, never study other designer’s output because that
change is neccesary. This is why you won’t find doesn’t work for me. I’m not a member of any
me idealising old techniqes like letterpress or organisation or club either. ●