In the beginning, HKliving focused mainly on furniture ranges. What prompted the "Wall-Art Collection", and what makes it special?
We realised that a home isn't complete without art on the walls, because art is the essence of a home's personality and character. Our Wall-Art Collection often serves several purposes as well: the relief wall art panels, for example, can absorb sound. Another special feature of our artworks is that they're all hand painted, so each one is slightly different from the next.
Where do the designs for the Wall Art Collection come from, and how many artists are involved?
That varies from collection to collection. It always starts with our creative product developers. They give us various designs, which are sent to production. We then look at the resulting samples together and decide whether or not to include them in the collection. So it's always a team decision. For the painted artworks, we work with various artists, whose signatures you'll often find on the back of a painting.
Does the design of an artwork follow clear guidelines, or does the artist's personal touch always come into it too?
Customers can choose from various motifs in the Wall Art Collection, and they expect to receive exactly that motif. That means that even though the paintings are hand painted, the artists ultimately have to stay close to the original. To reproduce the idea and execution as faithfully as possible, we follow a guideline that mainly determines the colour and size of the objects in an artwork.
Are there other HKliving collections for which several artists or designers were brought in? And what makes that creative process so special?
Yes, there are, because we strongly believe in the power of collaboration. It's the only way we can keep gaining new influences and broadening our horizons. That's also what makes these projects so special. Our collaboration partners include interior designer Marie Olsson Nylander, vintage fashion hunter Doris and artist Sella Molenaar. We're also happy to give like-minded artists a platform to present their work in our collection.
On the HKliving website, the Wall-Art Collection is described as primitive and contemporary. Can you sum up what defines this form of art?
Our art collection is contemporary because it's colourful and often abstract. That makes it accessible to many homes with different styles. The primitive side shows in the roughly painted surfaces, which often include textures and reliefs.
Why do you think this pared-back art, with its simple shapes and abstract figures, is so popular at the moment?
Artworks of this kind are often easier to integrate into the style of a home. Most people are less inclined to paint a wall in a bold colour than to buy something that's modular. An artwork doesn't have to hang permanently in one particular place, which makes it more versatile than a painted wall. So a painting is a good way to give your home a new touch, whether in the short or long term.
Are the pictures only painted to order, or is there a certain quantity available?
We always keep a certain number in stock so that we can deliver customers their chosen motif more quickly. But the run is much smaller than for other mass-produced products, such as smaller home accessories.
The popular 1970s collection also stands out for its touch of individuality (unique colour gradients and slight variations in the pattern). Do you think there's a trend towards imperfection?
We've noticed a trend towards one-of-a-kind pieces for a long time. That's also why vintage is so popular at the moment. When there's only a limited edition of a product, or it has emotional value because of a personal story, it's always something special. It's a bit like a bookshelf, which tells you a lot about a person's individual taste. One-off pieces and furniture with a story help us express who we really are.
Let's say I want to brighten up my home with an artwork but don't know which style appeals to me. What would you recommend?
In that case, we'd advise you to choose abstract art that matches the colour palette of your home. That may sound like an adventurous choice at first, but it's one that's pretty sure to work. Oddly enough, a mix of artworks in different styles feels calmer, because the focus isn't on one particular piece.
Are more collections like the Wall Art Collection planned for the future?
The HKliving Wall-Art Collection is expanded with new artworks every year. Last year we added acrylic glass frames, which hadn't existed anywhere before and have become a cool statement. In collaboration with photographer Tim Buiting, we're also venturing into the world of photography. We're always on the lookout for new trends and like to innovate when it comes to wall decor. But we can't give away too much just yet.
We're looking forward to the new collection – thank you so much for talking to us!
Find your new favourite piece from HKliving here:
This article first appeared, along with other fascinating interior stories, in the current issue of Visionary Magazine.
