“The world revolves around efficiency, speed and preferably fitting into the mold of expectations. But it is the world out there that makes us wonder.”
​
Ruben Hoogvliet and Gijs Wouters found each other in their fascination for materials, crafts and love for nature during their studies at the art academy ArtEZ in Arnhem. After graduation, they joined forces and experiences in Atelier Fig.
Through experimental processes and innovative designs they create a world of extraordinary
objects. The aesthetic experience creates awareness of the tactility and transformation within the creative process and shows what often remains unexposed. With their work they provide a playful answer to the demand for new and personalised products within the current industry.
​
Exhibitions and Awards
[2023] 15 Years Carlos in Huis, Deventer, NL
Alchemy of Form, Mint Gallery London, UK
Design Fair, curated by Berry Dijkstra, Rotterdam, NL
Legends & Legacy, Cor Unum, Alcova Milano, IT
Funct Feast, Tableau, Stockholm Design Week, SE
The Power of Ceramics, MAD Brussels, BE
[2022] 30 Years Frozen Fountain, Amsterdam, NL
Shifting Time Frames, Mister Design, DenBosch, NL
Messmerizing, DDW, Eindhoven, NL
Rising Talent Award, Maison & Objet, Paris, FR
Paris design week, Atelier Néerlandais, Paris, FR
DesignGalerie, Gewerbe Museum, Winterthur, CH
Potverdorie, Tiendschuur, Tegelen, NL.
[2021] Evisions Invites, Upcoming talents, DDW, Eindhoven, NL
[2020] Collective exhibition, HUMANOID shop, Arnhem NL
Graduation exhibition, ARTEZ university of arts, Arnhem NL
[2018] New leather design contest, ECCO LEATHER, Dongen NL
[2017] Glass and ceramic fair, GLAS IN BEELD, Leerdam NL
Common grounds DUTCH DESIGN WEEK, TAC Eindhoven NL
Exposition forms & fictions, Gallery Marzee, Nijmegen, NL
Partners & Collaborations
VitraHaus Shop, Weil am Rhein, DE
Mint Gallery, London, UK
Tableau, Copenhagen, DEK
Carlos in Huis, Deventer, NL
Gallery Philia, Geneva, CH / NYC, USA
B&B Italia, Milan, IT
Museum Arnhem, Arnhem, NL
De Design Shop, Eindhoven, NL
Cor Unum, Den Bosch, NL
Good Sessions, Marseille, FR
Frozen Fountain, Amsterdam, NL
​
Work experiences & Artist residencies.
The Glass Factory, Oasis&Lagoon, Emmaboda, SE
Design Lab Textiles Summer School, Kyoto, JP
Feng Chen Wang, Shanghai, CH
The Pottery Workshop, Jingdezhen, CH
Leather Crash Course, ECCO LEATHER, Dongen, NL
Goldsmiths course, jewelery design, Velp, NL
Footwear design, By Lilian Sanderson, Arnhem NL
Panoma Island, MMU , Manchester UK
​