STYLE CHAT
Every month, we ask a personality about all the things that make life beautiful and stylish.
MARIEJE VAN BUUREN | Artist
Marieje studied at Central Saint Martins and the Royal College of Art in London, after a brief time at the Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam. She worked as a freelance designer before fully dedicating herself to her own art practice in 2020. Her wall sculptures are made from recycled or deadstock yarns. Each piece begins with a watercolour sketch, after which she weaves, wraps, and knots the yarns around an organically shaped copper frame.
mariejevanbuuren.com
TEXT BY KARIN DE RIDDER
If you could start over, where would you like to live? “I think it would be fantastic to live in Japan for an extended period. I travelled there for five weeks in 2017 and it was an unforgettable experience. I was fascinated by the contrast between hypermodern Tokyo and the traditional atmosphere of Kyoto. Yet everywhere, you sense the same attention to detail, cleanliness and sense of safety. Everything feels so different, very inspiring.”
Are you a morning or evening person? “Neither, I’m a midnoon person. I start the day with meditation and exercise, then I get to work with my watercolours. In the afternoon, I begin weaving. Of course, there are also days when I have to sit at my desk, but that makes me quite restless. I much prefer seeing colours and shapes appear through my hands.
How would you describe your iterior? “English indie meets country cottage: think simple and functional, with soft colours, natural materials, authenticity, and craftsmanship, with the occasional quirky touch or clever solution.
Out of Office: where do you escape the crowds? 'In nature, in any landscape with a slight preference for forest or heath.'
Tent or hotel? “Both! A tent on a cliff in Cornwall or a beautiful hotel on the island of Ischia in Italy. As long as it’s by the sea, I’m content.”
Where would you like to have a holiday home? “I spent many summers on the island of Formentera, back when it wasn’t too crowded. You can choose your beach depending on the wind direction. The island has only one traffic light and you never wear real shoes just flip-flops. It doesn’t feel European at all, in the best possible way.”
“Weaving and painting brings me into the moment. I won't let myself be carried away by my thoughts”
What calms you down? “I find tranquillity in nature, in meditation and reflection, and in writing, weaving, and painting. These activities ground me in the present moment and help me observe my thoughts rather than being swept away by them. The work I do is very healing, it has a kind of mandala-like quality. It mirrors my personal development and has become a metaphor for life itself.”
What do you prefer: an intimate tête-à-tête or a cosy dinner with many friends and family? “I love both, but I especially enjoy a warm mix of friends and family around the table. I find it enriching to watch my children interact with my friends. The insights that come from those exchanges are always special to me.”
What's the best gift you've ever received? “My three children each so different in appearance and character. Despite their individuality, they are deeply connected and inseparable. I’m constantly in awe of how openly and courageously they engage with life.”
What is your favourite aperitif? “Now and then I enjoy a Negroni. It has a beautiful, complex flavour bitter, spicy and sweet. Somehow, it always reminds me of Sicily: layered, intense, and full of contrasts, even though the drink is originally from Florence.”
What advice would you have liked to receive yourself when you were 18 years old? “That everything you do is right and comes at the right time. That you can trust your intuition. And that things don’t happen to you, but for you. Those are wise words, though I might not have fully grasped them at that age.”
Which book is on your side table in the living room? “The Book of Answers by Carol Bolt and A Course in Miracles by Helen Schucman.”
Which building made a lasting impression on you? “Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) in Seoul, by Zaha Hadid Architects. The futuristic, organic architecture had a profound physical effect on me. It made me feel both dignified and expansive as though I physically belonged to the structure.”
Which artist can make a portrait of you? “Louise Bourgeois. I find her a fascinating woman. Her background is compelling her parents were carpet weavers, yet she had a difficult relationship with her mother. She was a small woman with a powerful presence and she created deeply moving, monumental works.” ■
Stijlvol Wonen September 2024