1. Where were you born and where are you from ?

I am from Belgium and was born in Herentals, a small town near Antwerp.

2. What is your first memory connected to the art world ?

Back in 1975 I visited the Art Nouveau Museum Horta in Brussels which arouse my curiosity and passion for architecture, art and design. To this day I still find this a refined and inspiring architectural building, where details, characterful materials and functionality are intertwined.

3. Have you always worked in the art/design field ?

Yes, I was lucky enough to discover my passion at a very young age. I’ve been designing since 1983, right after I finished my studies in interior architecture.

4. What led you to the design creation ?

Designing has always been part of my passion and profession. While working as an interior architect, I often received requests to design custom furniture/solutions for our clients’ projects. The design of furniture and objects did not stop with the delivery of the projects and became a hobby that got out of hand. This translated into my own label ‘Alinea Design Objects’ in 1995.

5. How would you describe your creative process and it influences ?

I find my creativity and inspiration in different beauties such as nature.
To bring these ideas to life, some fundamental aspects are considered: durability and functionality.

6. Could you describe a typical day of your work ?

I’m a morning person so my day starts pretty early. From then on my days are very different. As we are a small company, I am in close contact myself with clients and suppliers who I regularly visit. When I’m in the office I am most happy when I can design with pencil and paper undisturbed.

7. Why did you choose the specific materials you work with ?

I like working with natural and characterful materials such as wood, glass and natural stone as with the Angelo M table collection. I attach great importance to sustainability, which means that the choice of materials is extremely important in my designs. I want customers to enjoy my timeless designs for a long time to come, hence the choice of materials that retain their charm and value.

8. What are the technical particularities of your creations ?

In all my designs I strive for a balance between functionality, timeless aesthetics and with a technical twist. To find this balance, a thorough knowledge of the materials used is necessary

9. What advices could you give to beginning artists who would like to create sculptural design works ?

There is a wide range of art and design in the world. To stand out and succeed, a certain knowledge of the market is necessary in order to surpass the existing offer.

10. If your works had to belong to a design movement, in which one would you define it ?

I consider my designs as essentially minimal and timeless.

11. What designers have influenced you ?

Mies van der Rohe, both his architectural buildings and furniture designs. A beautiful example of timelessness.

12. What contemporary designers do you appreciate ?

Designers who dare to deviate from trends to create something unique

13. What contemporary artists (in any kind of art) have you been inspired by ?

I greatly appreciate the works of Donald Judd, leading artist of minimalism in the mid-20th century.
I am also an admirer of Issey Miyake’s fashion designs. I recognize the timelessness of my furniture and objects designs in his fashion.

14. If you had to summarize your creations in one word or sentence, what would it be ?

Timeless with a high-quality finish for long-lasting use.

Proust Questionnaire with very short answers (one or a few words) :
(The Proust Questionnaire is a set of questions answered by the French writer Marcel Proust. Other historical figures who have answered confession albums are Oscar Wilde, Karl Marx, Arthur Conan Doyle, Stéphane Mallarmé, Paul Cézanne…)