Here at Serax, we’re celebrating International Women’s Day with a collaboration between two remarkable female creators: the dynamic Katie and the minimalist Marie. Katie Tomlinson is an illustrator from England. Her style is raw, bold, intuitive and playful. In short, she’s the ideal person to let loose on the pared-down furniture by our designer Marie Michielssen. Opposites attract, right? We asked Katie what she did exactly.
Please introduce yourself.
“My name is Katie, and I am a freelance visual artist from Bristol, England. After a one-year trip across Sri Lanka, India and Nepal together with my Belgian partner we settled in Antwerp. As far as my work is concerned, reportage illustration forms an important part of my artistic practice. That’s how I document my surroundings. It’s fascinating to capture an event as it unfolds before your eyes. But I also illustrate books, social media and magazines, and I have many private assignments. Recently I have enjoyed working on collaborative projects and organising events. At the end of last year, for example, together with Andy Roasters (one of my favourite coffee shops), I hosted a Mini-Expo for which I drew a new series depicting one of my favourite drinks: the espresso martini.” (laughs)
Tell us, Katie, what did you do with Marie Michielssen’s furniture?
“I added my illustrations to the light blue variant of the Jeanne table and the corresponding black Juliette seats by Marie Michielssen. I painted an imaginary brunch, on the first day of spring, onto the table. A meal that you share joyfully with loved ones. I thought it would be nice if a person sat down at this table and would be immersed in this dream scenario, as it were. The person can also interact with the painting by placing objects on it. In this way, I wanted to stimulate a certain playfulness during the meal. After all, the table is the centre of personal conversations, and they are better if there is an atmosphere of openness and cheerfulness in the air. On the corresponding benches, I mirrored elements from the table illustration.”
Where did you get the inspiration?
“I was inspired by the tableware collection, La Mère, also by Marie. It is an ode to all the mothers and grandmothers around the world. The theme affects me personally. When I was ten years old, my mother became a single mother to my sister and me. Her resilience and rebellious character have made me the person I am today. But also, visually, this ceramics collection reminds me of my mother. She is a sculptor, a ceramist and a real craftswoman. To me, the tactility of the objects in the La Mere collection conjure up images of a mother's strong fists and fingertips intensively kneading.
How did the collaboration with Marie Michielssen go? At first glance, you seem quite different.
“Actually, Marie and I immediately had a strong click. It started with something very simple, namely a common love for tulips, but soon, we turned out to have a lot of common points in terms of life philosophy and work processes. Marie’s designs are usually inspired by elements of everyday life, just like my illustrations. In doing so, she likes the imperfect shape, as do I. But, the effect is different. In this way, Marie abstracts her ideas into pared-down objects, while I want to preserve the rawness of the original idea as much as possible. It’s a matter of different but very complementary media: design and illustration.”
Your style is indeed quite raw and intuitive. Why is that?
“Today, we are bombarded with images of picture-perfect people and settings. We are told that our lives have to look a certain way to be happy. Real beauty, however, lies in authenticity and being different. I try to capture this in my work. I rarely correct my drawings and maintain the rawness and authenticity of the image. I also often draw on the basis of my personal memories. So it’s important for me to draw the viewer into the unpolished moment I’ve experienced.”
We organised this cooperation on the occasion of International Women’s Day. What does this day mean to you?
“For me, this day is a time to reflect on the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of all women around the world. To commemorate the incredibly strong women who fought for women’s rights. At the same time, this day serves as a reminder of the work that remains to be done. Many women are still in a vulnerable position. On a personal level, I will tell all my female friends and family how important they are to me in my life on that day.”
The unique furniture illustrated by Katie Tomlinson for International Women’s Day will be given away in a Serax giveaway. Do you want this set by Katie Tomlinson and Marie Michielssen in your home? Sign up for our newsletter, and you could win. The winner will be contacted personally on 15 March.
