Mae Engelgeer’s textile series Youkoso (‘welcome’) was inspired by Japan. Woven wall panels from the series reveal the versatile applications of handicrafts and the tactile properties of textiles.
Engelgeer made the woven wall panels specially for her solo presentation Youkoso at the 2016 Salone del Mobile in Milan, where the panels served as room dividers. Besides the panels, her presentation consisted of hand-knotted carpets, bed linen and towels inspired by Japanese aesthetics and craft.
The waffle pattern is divided into sections. The size of the waffle changes from top to bottom, without interrupting the pattern. Engelgeer experimented extensively with the black and white warp. The woollen threads and selected bindings give structure and depth to the waffle.
Amsterdam-based designer Engelgeer graduated in 2004 from the Amsterdam Fashion Institute, with a specialisation in textile design. She was later accepted to the prestigious Master’s in Applied Arts at the Sandberg Instituut and developed her first collection of textiles at the TextielLab. In 2014, she opened her own studio, working on product design and development, installations and international collaborations.
Her clients include Fest Amsterdam, Auping, Wolf Gordon and CC-Tapis. Her work is characterised by a distinct use of colour, geometric shapes and linear elements.
