Delft grenade

Artist and designer Magnus Gjoen uses Delft patterns on unlikely objects such as hand grenades and machine guns. We asked him what he was thinking.

Although it seems shocking, even political, Magnus says that he is simply exploring how powerfully destructive subject matter can be portrayed as being fragile. He also uses iconography from Renaissance, street and pop art to the same ends.

Appearing to be the most delicate of porcelain objects, his work is in fact a deceit of form – it is high-definition prints of forms he has created using 3D software, as though photos from an alternate reality. The original flat etchings of the Delft patterns are then layered and blurred until they achieve a hyperreal effect.

Born in London to Norwegian parents, Magnus studied design in London and Milan. He now holds the enviable position of being a fashion and graphic designer for Vivienne Westwood.

It can be tricky for designers to cross over into fine art, how has that process worked for you?

Design and art are both creative, it’s just a different way of expression. There are, of course, many styles of both art and design, however I think the main difference is that art has a longer lifetime, and hence should and can have more thought behind it. There are no deadlines in art; there are in fashion. I don’t believe clothes should be art and I don’t consider designers artists, although design itself can be as beautiful and pleasing as art. 

Among the different images used in your works, you’ve used Delftware inspiration. Why Delft? Why now?

Delftware and porcelain have a fragility and beauty that I use symbolically in my work. The human mind itself is fragile yet beautiful and I use porcelain to comment on the fine balance that sometimes holds our societies and us together. It can easily break when handled without care.

Do you differentiate between what can be called art and what can be called decor?

Decor for me is more about space and the items in it. Within decor there can be art and art forms part of a decor. 

Which artists and designers out there right now do you find most inspiring?

I find a lot of artists inspiring. Thomas Doyle and Jessica Harrison are currently favourites. With regards to designers, I have always been a big fan of Raf Simons. 

You also work as a graphic designer for Vivienne Westwood, a dream job for many, how did that come about?

I started my career as a high-end denim designer in Milan. When I moved back to London six or seven years ago, this experience and the fact that I speak Italian was probably of great help. I still go to Italy once a month where Vivienne produces most of her collections. 

Celebrating the Delft theme of the new SPRING FLING edition of VISI magazine, we have published a full Delft trend report online.

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More from the SPRING FLING edition of VISI

• New and second-cycle
  Renovation and interior design is seldom a stagnant, once-off affair. The best spaces grow into themselves. See the before pictures of the houses featured in the magazine.

• Deft blue strokes
  Fabric, surfboards, shacks… Something is afoot, and not just in South Africa! From Babylonstoren to Russia, browse our full Delft trend report.

• Popcorn architecture
  We have inspiration from the Architecture ZA 2012 Biennial Festival to share. Watch our online film festival and read our report back. 

• Mechanical futurism
  Some say steampunk is what happened when Goths discovered brown. Others say it grew out of a literary genre. Explore our steampunk trend report.

• Joburg Art Attack
  For at least one week in September, Joburg was hit by an art attack. Read the post-mortem and our guide to starting an art collection, written by the experts. 

• Winning wishes
  In October, Warren Lewis will be giving away four paintings. Up for grabs over October and November is a Bodum Bistro Coffee Maker from Banks Kitchen Boutique. Enter the competitions here.