Merry-go-round coatrack

The Merry-go-round coatrack was commissioned by Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen and was inspired by a system used by mineworkers. It is a cross between an artistic installation and a functional fixture. The commission was carried out as part of a one-off collective called ‘Haunting Dogs Full of Grace’, a collaboration between Bertjan Pot, Jurgen Bey, Ted Noten, Simon Heijdens, Frank Bruggeman and Studio Wieki Somers, which undertook the redesign of the entrance area of Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen. De garderobe staat als een carrousel op het plein. The coatrack stands like a merry-go-round in the space. The jackets and coats hanging from the coat rack fill the empty space below the ceiling. Throughout the day its form and colour changes constantly, acting as a mirror for the museum’s activities.

Wieki Somers (1976) and Dylan van den Berg (1971) work together under the name Studio Wieki Somers. Following their studies at the Design Academy in Eindhoven they set up their practice in Schiedam and Rotterdam. They undertake commissions for international companies, museums and galleries, including Galerie Kreo in Paris. They design for manufacture and for small-scale artisanal production. Their works are included in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Centre Pompidou in Paris and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

Wieki Somers does not take the existing world for granted. Why are everyday things the way they are? Her transformation of everyday objects results in new and unexpected forms. For her the inherent qualities of particular materials contribute to the meaning of her products. Her search for new forms is carried out with great attention to experimentation, the tactile qualities of materials and detailing. Somers’ designs do not impose themselves upon the user, but create a space for surprises and new ideas.