* “As a designer I think it is interesting to explore the possibility of abstraction within the field of design. This seems to be a paradox because design usually is related to functionality. But I have noticed that seemingly ‘non-functional design’ does not automatically result into art I think that any introduced source or inspiration can be incorporated within design. But it is important how you project the issue on previous characteristics or archetypes from the field of design and to which extent the design process is shown in the result.

This project fits in the way I work: an open assignment in a dominant space. Contrasts in shape and colour with the architecture arise almost by itself while the publice nature and the inhabitants  of the school unquestionally inspire me for a complex challenge. The design of specific symbols in furniture objects which communicate or are related to these special children.” – Job Smeets

* “In the hall of the Boemerang building it seems as if four space ships have landed. High glossy super Easter eggs on big stainless steel legs in loud colours red, yellow, blue and green. Or are they fat toy blowflies? They also could be dodgem cars, especially when the doors are open which open like in a sportscar. In reality they are ‘kiosks’, in which the scholars and teachers can sit and talk, get books and games or coffee. They are art objects which Job Smeets designed for the Boemerang, a special elementary school housed in a new building which consists out of loose pavilions situated around a covered patio.

Job: “When I was asked to do an art project for a new school I spent a day there. Like an actor does fieldwork for his new role I took some classes and talked with the children, the caretaker and the  staff in order to find out what kind of art object they wanted. The scholars were very excited about their recent visit to Euro Disney. So the boys wanted a race car or a rollercoaster and the girls big, flying ladybirds. The teachers were more thinking about practical storage space and a coffee corner. A wide variety of wishes which I all wanted to fullfill. Finally, I wanted to make something which would be separate from the rather present architecture.”

It turned out that Smeets succeeded in uniting a wide variety of wishes in one image: a kind of unisex cocoon with the shape of a super egg (250×180 cm, diameter 150cm). He approached the assignment like as if he was building an amusement park attraction. He made the outside of shiny polyester with a rubber bumper around the doors just like a dodgem car. The interior is finished with felt and luxerious oregon pine wood laminate. One Cocoon serves as a coffee corner and has, next to a ‘child safe’ coffee machine, also a stainless steel sink with tap. Then there is a Cocoon to sit in and two Cocoons with bookshelves shaped like a skeleton. As if you are looking in the belly of an animal. Constantly Smeets makes sharp contrasts between shape and colour.

Job: “I chose for proportions like Disney World so that an aliniated space evolved where everybody feels comfortable’.

The monumental Cocoons in the Boemerang building are sculptures but at the same time far more than just an image. Everybody can enjoy using them which happens in reality. Smeets proves that art does not have to be serious or alienating but also fun and usable. He was flattered with the assignment. Designers usually make serial products and are involved to of a lot of limitations in price and production. With this one-off assignment Job was much more free and he could give full vent to his creativity. Due to this situation his work also takes a leap.”

– Peter van Kester.