Wanders "marr[ies] a traditional craft with emerging materials and production techniques to create an entirely new take on a familiar object."Wanders' closeness to his Dutch roots greatly influences his designs. This quote describes Wanders' love for combining the old with the new, as well as reviving the art and beauty of old handmade crafts, which have been a big part of the Dutch culture for many decades. What's so great about him is that he is proud of his culture and tries to restore old traditions so that he can share with the world what was personal to him growing up in a Dutch family. He incorporates techniques, such as crocheting or macrame, into his designs, but with a modern twist. He plays with the old, traditional, organic-shaped, handmade crafts versus the rugged, industrial elements of today. He celebrates the beauty of his Dutch culture but by "creat[ing] an entirely new take on a familiar object," people of all ethnicity can relate and love the art and culture as well. And there, Wanders finds the perfect medium between the old and the new.
I feel that we could all learn something from Wanders. Many times, we feel that old is old and traditional is too traditional. It's in the past. It's antique. Some people love it and some people don't. And if you incorporate your culture into the design, only a certain group of people will relate and others will find it unappealing. So, if only a small portion of the world is going to accept it, why should we design it? We don't realize the potentional of how these old traditional elements can be a great influence in the way we design. By taking even a simple element, such as a doily, a decorative Dutch element, Wanders transformed this old, traditional, delicate piece of lace into a striking, timeless piece of furniture that is an expression of old traditions with the new.
We've been heavily influenced by the Canadian and American culture that we forget about our own cultural roots. Why? Because sometimes, we are embarrassed to create designs influenced by our own cultures when we're living in such a westernized world. We want people to love what we design so we choose the easy way out by focusing on what's already heavily accepted in society and considered the "norm". And so, it leaves everything else feeling unusual and out of the ordinary. We often find ourselves walking into a Japanese restaurant with lanterns and traditional elements, and saying, "Oh, this is very Japanese." But when we go into a Japanese restaurant that has a westernized, contemporary, modern twist, we find ourselves saying, "Ooo, I like this place. It's so nice and different from what I expected in a Japanese restaurant. I should take my friends here next time."
So where can we find common ground? Everyone is born with a unique cultural background and there are so many elements of design and traditions that could be of such great influence in the way we design. As an individual with Chinese cultural roots, I've been exposed to the Chinese festivals, celebrations, traditions, religions and old Chinese histories. They have shaped me into who I am as an individual and even in the way I think and create. Wanders has taught me that by keeping an open mind, we can create a whole new take on such a simple, traditional element, such as chopsticks or Chinese paintings on rice paper, in a way that it is modern and new but also reflects the Chinese culture. He has shown through his "Knotted Chair" and "Crochet Table" that you don't need to make it look old and traditional. Even such a simple thing like the crochet pattern of a doily can influence new, innovative design. People will then see it for its beauty, shape and form rather than the traditional elements that helped create the design.Wanders success in using his old Dutch roots to influence his designs by taking a new approach has given me the confidence to not be afraid to incorporate my own cultural background while adding a modern twist. Old traditions can be too traditional and outdated. And the new contemporary and modern designs are all starting to look the same and is growing tired. But when you combine the two, you get something so unique, extraordinary and meaningful. So being Chinese, it's who I am, and it's alright to use traditional Chinese elements of design into my works. So there's my medium.