David van Slooten

design - artistiek onderzoek

My work commonly exist of a research which is visualized into a series of sculptural objects. This physical outcome is often very pragmatic and reflecting on our designed surroundings and our material culture. From a research point of view, I am interested in how the meanings of objects come into being and how we relate to the things around us. I prefer to make things by working with a hands-on approach and see how things evolve slowly. In this proces of evolution photography is an important tool. I often work with course building materials and wood. Besides making things, I like to go out with a tent and search for some solitude up in the mountains. Therefore, I have an eye for primitivity, the transience of nature and a love for quick and temporary solutions, things I try to reflect on in my work.


The Course of Things, 834 days - These objects are made as a study into ‘wild things’ and ‘tamed things’. A ‘wild thing’ is open for interaction with the environment, the maker or the user. These things have a life cycle in which they arise and perish. Especially this transience has a beauty which is missing increasingly in today’s mass-produced everyday objects. Where ‘wild things’ arise with a component of chance, ‘tamed things’ are effective. They are meant to be always the same and try desperately to freeze time. ‘Tamed things’ arise from a process of years of refining. Coincidence is being excluded by the machine. Over time primitive solutions have been improved by the emergence of professional craft and later on by the industry. These things visualize a perishing in time and question if we should obey transience or keep longing for permanence.
Material research - Combining building materials with a contrasting appearance, soft and hard, lucent, glossy and matt.
Landschapsobjecten - Throughout history, our relationship to the natural landscape has changed dramatically. No longer are we part of this landscape ourselves. Especially in The Netherlands we evaluate it from a distance and revise if necessary. Nature is an object in the landscape. An object we can photograph and read about on signs. One specific part of the landscape is highlighted as natural and the rest of the environment is stylistically adapted to this. In one place we put a natural element on a pedestal whereas we remove it somewhere else. We have the policy: 'Vrij wandelen op wegen en paden' These objects visualize the Dutch interaction with nature and thus form small natural landscapes. One natural element is exhibited in all objects, sometimes compelling and oppressive, sometimes carefully wrapped.
The Course of Things - This serie of chairs emanate from a fascination in the arise an transcience of things. Often this theme expresses itself in the contrast between two different making processes; the one of the amateur craftsmen and the one of the industry. With this series of chairs, I question how we relate to the things around us. The chairs are made out of industrial produced cellular concrete blocks: a lightweight and efficient building material. Several blocks are glued together with PU foam. Out of this rectangular massive block each chair is chopped one by one. Every chair is further refined by the knowledge gathered of chopping the previous one. This way of working corresponds with ‘the amateur craftsmen’ who is mainly driven by the joy of discovering and making. Whereas industrial processes are driven by the improvement of speed and perfection, and thus saving costs. The amateur craftsmen’s freely moving hand needs time to learn from every small repetition of movement. This contrasts with the strict production process of industrial products in which every second counts. Consciousness, innocence and the joy of discovery are hereby erased from the process of creation and changed into an urge for perfection and control. With these furniture pieces I wonder what value can be added to an industrial produced material by using the amateurish approach of joy and discovery and be open to the course of things.