workshop:

Communist Carpenting

with Niels Albers

23 Jul 2022

High quality furniture that can be made by anyone, with simple tools and without special training – this was the idea behind Enzo Mari’s design approach. As a tribute to the work of the communist furniture designer Enzo Mari, the godfather of the Maker Movement, we will host a DIY furniture workshop with Niels Albers.

Tickets / Facebook

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Workshop participant holding her Enzo Mari creation - Jessica Cohen

With:

What you will do

We will transform the Mediamatic's Sluisdeurenloods into a wood workshop to bring alive the vision and design process of Enzo Mari. Your tutor, Niels Albers, will introduce you to some elementary carpentry tips and tricks, and will offer you guidance whenever needed. Each participant will have the necessary materials and tools to create the classic Sedia 1 chair. However, if you wish, we can also provide you with some other designs by Enzo Mari - feel free to experiment! The resulting pieces can be taken home or can be donated to Mediamatic.

Enzo Mari

Enzo Mari drew inspiration from the idealism of the arts and crafts movement, and his political views as a communist. In 1974, he created his noteworthy manual: Autoprogettazione?, which can be loosely translated as ‘self-design’. With this manual he sought to provide simple - yet beautiful - quality furniture, and open source the designs. The furniture projects were meant to be constructed at home, with a hammer and some nails only.

Niels Albers 

Niels Albers is a Dutch artist and designer based in Amsterdam. In 2010 he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts at the Audio-Visual department of the Gerrit Rietveld Academy. After obtaining a Master of Interior Architecture at the Sandberg Institute in 2018, he was one of the founders of Fabulous Future a collective of seven, which is engaged in combining research, development and construction of spaces, events and situations. His great talent is to make the most wonderful ideas technically and practically concrete, preferably by designing constructively, which can be seen in some of his works in public space.

Tickets

Full price €95 | Discount €75
We give a discount to students, artists and Stadspas holders. If this applies to you we might ask to see your kvk nr/portfolio or student card for this option.

Information

23th of July, 10:00-14:00
We maintain a minimum of 6 people.
Please note that unless everyone speak Dutch, this workshop will be held in English.
For questions please e-mail workshop@mediamatic.nl.

We are taking corona safety into account at our workshops. 
Read our ticket terms and conditions here.

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Enzo Mari in his studio in 1974 - Photo by Adriano Alecchi Source: Wiki commons

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Proposal for an Autoprogettazione by Enzo Mari - Photo by Enzo Mari Associati Source: Damn magazine

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Enzo Mari's designs are simple yet beautiful - Jessica Cohen

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Chair built after an Enzo Mari design - Jessica Cohen

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Assembling wooden furniture - Taken during Self-design Enzo Mari Furniture by Niels Albers. Photo 2021 by Anisa Xhomaqi for Mediamatic Anisa Xhomaqi

With: Niels Albers
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Measuring a plank of wood - Taken during Self-design Enzo Mari Furniture by Niels Albers. Photo 2021 by Anisa Xhomaqi for Mediamatic Anisa Xhomaqi

With: Niels Albers
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Sanding a plank of wood - Taken during Self-design Enzo Mari Furniture by Niels Albers. Photo 2021 by Anisa Xhomaqi for Mediamatic Anisa Xhomaqi

With: Niels Albers
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Participant constructing furniture at the Enzo Mari workshop - Taken during Self-design Enzo Mari Furniture by Niels Albers. Photo 2021 by Anisa Xhomaqi for Mediamatic Anisa Xhomaqi

With: Niels Albers
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Design of Enzo Mari's Sedia chair - Taken during Self-design Enzo Mari Furniture by Niels Albers. Photo 2021 by Anisa Xhomaqi for Mediamatic Anisa Xhomaqi

With: Niels Albers
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Niels assisting in the building of an Enzo Mari chair - Taken during Self-design Enzo Mari Furniture by Niels Albers. Photo 2021 by Anisa Xhomaqi for Mediamatic Anisa Xhomaqi

With: Niels Albers
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Participant measuring wooden planks for an Enzo Mari design - Taken during Self-design Enzo Mari Furniture by Niels Albers. Photo 2021 by Anisa Xhomaqi for Mediamatic Anisa Xhomaqi

With: Niels Albers
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Niels giving carpenting tips - Taken during Self-design Enzo Mari Furniture by Niels Albers. Photo 2021 by Anisa Xhomaqi for Mediamatic Anisa Xhomaqi

With: Niels Albers
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Workshop in full swing! - Taken during Self-design Enzo Mari Furniture by Niels Albers. Photo 2021 by Anisa Xhomaqi for Mediamatic Anisa Xhomaqi

With: Niels Albers
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Getting the Enzo Mari chair edges flush before nailing - Taken during Self-design Enzo Mari Furniture by Niels Albers. Photo 2021 by Anisa Xhomaqi for Mediamatic Anisa Xhomaqi

With: Niels Albers
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Participant testing their Enzo Mari chair - Taken during Self-design Enzo Mari Furniture by Niels Albers. Photo 2021 by Anisa Xhomaqi for Mediamatic Anisa Xhomaqi

With: Niels Albers