The Art of RAW is an artist support project launched by denim brand G-Star RAW in 2022. The brand is working with young artists on a unique "experiment" to recycle denim as a material. Through its "Return Your Denim" program, G-Star RAW allows customers to bring clothing that can no longer be repaired to the brand's stores in Europe, where it is either recycled appropriately or used in young artist support projects like "The Art of RAW."
Teun Zwets (born 1992), who was the first to be announced in April this year, graduated from Design Academy Eindhoven in 2020 and was awarded the Kaserne Prize. He was once again one of the first to begin creating and present a work. The work, titled "Denim Living," is an object made by layering multiple layers of denim scraps on a piece of furniture that combines a metal frame chair, cupboard, and lamp.
The second installment is "Ariadne's Thread," a quilted denim piece by Athena Gronti (born 1993) based on a Greek myth. Inspired by the Greek myth in which a princess of Crete used thread to help her beloved hero escape from a labyrinth, the piece explores the history and sociological aspects of denim, expressing the various expressions of denim in a large quilt.
The third installment, by Lenny Stöp (born 1992), uses approximately 8kg of used denim. Denim, water, and starch are mixed in an industrial pulp machine, and the dried material is used to create a furniture series consisting of a side table, stool, and lamp. This latest work, titled "Fluff Stacks," is an art piece created by upcycling denim using a unique recipe, following the artist's previous intensive exploration and work with specific materials such as ceramics, textiles, and wood.
We interviewed Renee Stape about the process of this methodology, which is reminiscent of a scientific experiment and has been described as a "mad method."
"We tend to use the word 'sustainable' too easily, but do we really understand what it means? Are we truly 'sustainable'?"
(Reni Stehp)
Q: You describe yourself as a multidisciplinary artist. What materials do you usually use and how do you work?
Reni Stehp (hereinafter Reni): I like materials that are somewhat unconventional, like ceramic, denim, and wood. These are materials that are not readily available, but require the imagination. I love to imagine what the texture and feel are like, and think about the psychology of the person who sees and uses them. I am easily fascinated by various materials, and I like to concentrate on something for a while, exploring the material and the process that creates it, and then, once I have mastered the techniques, go back and explore again.
Q: Can you tell us how you were nominated as an artist for "The Art of RAW" project?
Renee: Once the pandemic subsided, the recognition of my work has accelerated in an interesting way. Exactly one year ago, I exhibited at the Rotterdam Objekt design fair, and it went very well. I received several calls from magazines wanting to write articles, and I sold some pieces. I was also offered an exhibition in Italy. I was also contacted by G-Star RAW, which was a big surprise.
Q: How do you analyze the fact that your work has been recognized in the fashion world?
Renny: Collaborating with G-star RAW was a great opportunity for me. I am very honored that my work has become part of such a different field as the fashion world. I don't see myself working only on one platform or field. I have always been drawn to working with different techniques and materials, so I am thrilled to be able to add this new denim art piece, "Fluff Stacks," to my collection. The pieces I designed for G-star RAW are a furniture collection, which is unusual for a fashion company. This collection uses old denim fabric, which is a completely new material to me, and it was a lot of fun to create pieces out of denim.
Q: What was the creative thought process behind "Fluff Stacks"?
Renny: I always look at materials and think about what properties they have and how I want them to behave. I created a new material using denim pulp and found it to be very durable. Thinking about how I could push the boundaries of this material, I decided to create furniture, creating three prototypes: a side table, a stool, and a lamp.
Q: What do you think about the assessment that your work is "sustainable"?
Renee: I think we should think carefully about where materials come from before using them and then create something. We tend to use the word "sustainable" too easily, but do we really understand what it means? Are we really "sustainable"? I don't like being labeled. I focus on techniques and materials, and I'm always trying to find ways to use materials in a different way than what's commonly accepted.
Q: What are your upcoming exhibition plans? 。
Q: What are your plans for the future?
Renny: Hmm, my plans for the future? Maybe moving abroad to Denmark or Sweden. I've always been fascinated by how traditional design can be given an experimental twist, making it more contemporary. In my spare time, I might be inspired to do an artist residency in a remote, off-grid area, immersing myself in that environment and working with only the materials available there.
Q: Is there anything about Japanese culture and art that interests you?
Renny: I love traditional Japanese crafts and am particularly inspired by the work of ceramicists and woodworkers. I would like to go to Japan and learn about traditional crafts and Japan's beautiful culture firsthand.
