In Conversation: Lucas Maassen & Margriet Craens

From erotic chair affairs to edible ideas, Lucas Maassen and Margriet Craens merge design and art with equal parts tragedy, humor, and everyday inspiration.

Text by: Anna Falkenland

“We thought of Van Gogh’s secret affair story and made a Kama Sutra-inspired chair series.”

Tell us about yourself and how you got started with art.

MC: I don’t know if I have a very clear answer. I always liked making things, and at some point I went to art school. Then I started making art, and I’ve been doing that ever since. Tragedy and humor are central to my interests.

LM: For me, I was always interested in furniture and interior design because my dad was an architect. I studied at the Design Academy in Eindhoven. I like to make things, and my dad built my first chair when I was one. I later reproduced it for a project with my sons.

What are your sources of inspiration?

MC: Nature. Food. Food is a big source of inspiration, though especially for what to eat. Sometimes it leads to a project. I once did a whole project about cheese. Awkward social situations also inspire me.

LM: My sources of inspiration are around me. I’ve done projects with my family, my sons, and my parents. I try to look for more meaning in design. And yes, now that we have a dog, I’ll probably do a project with it soon. I’m also inspired by artists like Rietveld, Enzo Mari, and other design heroes. I love chairs — their makers, shapes, materials, years of production.

Who are your artistic influences?

MC I’m a fan of Fischli and Weiss. I like artists who use humor. When I started art school, I was inspired by Erwin Wurm and others. Franz West is also good.

LM: My all-time favorite hero is Rietveld, but also Nicola L. I like how she gives life to objects, often tied to feminism. I also made a chair that could sing and a series about chairs "doing it together." It’s like giving life to dead objects. Humor is essential in my work too.

“Food is a big source of inspiration. I once did a whole project about cheese.”

Can you share a story behind one of your most popular pieces?

LM: The “Chair Affair” is our most popular series. It started with me making chairs that could sit, do yoga, sing, and act. When Margriet and I first started dating, I drew little chairs “doing it together.” She responded with actual chair installations. We later developed it into a project for the Van Gogh House. We thought of Van Gogh’s secret affair story and made a Kama Sutra-inspired chair series. It caused some controversy, but we went ahead. We made nearly 100 sculptures, photographed them, exhibited them, and published a book called Chair Affair, with erotic stories inspired by the photos.

MC: My favorite pictures are always the ones with a story behind them.

What motivates you to create?

LM: I’m not very motivated; I’m quite lazy. But sometimes something pops into my head and I have to do it.

MC: Same for me. You have a thought and then feel, “Ooh, that could be nice.” Some ideas work, some don’t. Many never come to life.

What does art mean to you?

LM: Too difficult! But to me, it’s one of the most essential things in life. Without art, life would suck.

MC: Without art, the world would not exist as we know it. Imagine no music, no creativity. It keeps people sensible.

What’s the biggest challenge of being an artist?

LM: Storage. Taking care of all the stuff you make. And maybe doing Q&As like this.

MC Work-life balance is also a challenge. We run a restaurant and art space, and everything intertwines. Sometimes it’s hard, but I also like that overlap.

Where do you live, and does your place impact your art?

LM: We built a wooden house with friends in Eindhoven. The process was a disaster, but we moved in two years ago. Now we’re moving again, into an old Finnish school with a workspace. That will impact how we work.

MC: My studio is separate, but yes, living space always affects the work.

What advice would you give aspiring artists?

LM: Don’t think too much. Trust your gut. Believe everything you do is good.

MC: Be convinced of yourself, but also open to feedback.

What are you focusing on right now?

LM: Holiday! Swimming, cycling, cooking, walking the dog. For work, I’m focusing on engraving objects and painting.

MC: I’m focused on creating a new menu for our bar and preparing for Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven.

Do you have any future projects coming up?

LM: Some projects in Italy, and of course building our new house with a workspace.

MC: We also have friends in Thailand working on collaborations. A lot is in the pipeline.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received about art?

LM: My teacher Ari once said, “That’s nice, but it’s ugly… but you are ugly.” It taught me beauty is subjective, and you decide what’s good. He also told me, “The dog will give you structure,” when we got our dog. That was more life advice, but art is life.