COLOURFUL MINDS:
Arno Hoogland
A futurist, artist and maker who creates immersive interior spaces that blur the line between art and function; not a combination many can claim on their CV.
Arno's work centres on shape, colour and texture. “I love allowing people to discover for themselves what something is and how it was made. My studio is my manacle - a place to create, experiment and dream." His work has been part of our stores for a number of years, making this the perfect time to invite him to share his perspective on colour, the theme of our AW25 collection.
This/that
Never using colour again or never using pattern again
Furniture or artwork
Intuition or research
Neutrals or neon brights
Function or form
Minimalism or maximalism
Finishing a project or starting a new one
Working in silence or with loud music
One signature palette forever or a new one every month
Digital sketchbook or paper notebook
Robot assistant or human apprentice
A week without your phone or a week without creating
Predict the future or design the future
Grid lines
"I always start with a blank sketchbook, with grid lines. I can’t draw, so lines are my go-to. I usually begin with straight lines, circles, and geometric shapes. My goal is to attract people through shape, texture, and colour. Ultimately, everything should be in balance."
Colour confessions
"The colour I avoid? White! Although I’m not even sure that counts as a “real” colour. Honestly, I probably know less about colour than you’d think. Philips Hue tells me warm colours are relaxing and cool colours are energizing — but little secret: sometimes I even wonder if I’m colourblind."
"The colour that means the most to me… well, it’s a bit like a high school crush: a new love every season, but you never really get to touch it. I’m always a bit nervous when working with colour. The most exciting moment? When something is finished, because that’s when it really sets the mood."
The chameleon artist
"Do I have a favourite colour? Not really. It depends entirely on my mood. Bad vibes = red, happy vibes = yellow. If I weren’t an artist, maybe I’d be an inventor… although, since I never read books, I’d probably end up a table tennis player."
Social struggles
"My biggest challenge? Posting my work online, especially on Instagram. Captions are the worst. My studio is my safe space."
The beer temple
"My dream project? A temple where people can come together to drink beer — a place to hang out and chat."
Self-ranked
"If I had to rank three of my own works, it would be:"
1. Wave series
2. Clover Eye series
3. Vermis series
Abstract affairs
"At one point in my career, I decided to chase my own dreams. That’s when I started working for myself."
"My studio? A mix of makerspace and think-space. I hope people pause at my work and become fascinated by the magic of the form, or by how an object was made. It should spark curiosity: hand-made… or machine-made?"
"I try to create something abstract, something that could be anything. It shouldn’t be too figurative, so the viewer can wonder: What is this? How was it made?"
