Reuber Henning

In Consideration of Copyright - The Ruggist

In Consideration of Copyright
An essay on the importance of perspective in examining originators, copyists, and derivatists.

2 July 2018 Michael Christie Commentary

In the 1999 film ‘Dogma’ Salma Hayek plays ‘Serendipity’. Not simply a woman whose name happens to be Serendipity, but rather she plays the physical embodiment of serendipity itself, which is to say she is the ‘chance’ which brings about the occurrence and development of events in a happy or beneficial way. Except of course, there is no chance. While those without divinity perceive their interactions as random, or due to fate, or karma, or what have you, from the perspective of Serendipity, it is her will which causes events to happen as they do; for her the future is not fully unknown nor fully manifest rather its exists as any one of an endless number of permutations based upon her direct actions. In many ways the creation and success of a supposedly new rug or carpet design is a result of serendipity with the artist or designer creating something perceived as new as a result of the careful and equally serendipitous or Serendipitous work of those who have come before.

The 'CarpetHammock' from Reuber Henning shown at the Vitra Design Museum. | Image courtesy of Reuber Henning and © Vitra Design Museum, Bettina Matthiessen photographer.

Über Lounging | ‘CarpetHammock’

8 July 2016 Michael Christie Noteworthy

As our North American agrarian roots gave way to a more modern ‘developed’ society so too did the need for our children to work on the farm give way. In its stead, our summer has evolved into a time to thoroughly enjoy the weather, lolling about in warm breezes, imagining a life far less hurried. The summer of 2015 brought us both the accessible middle market Fatboy Picnic Lounge and the capital ‘C’ couture Daydreamer Lounge from Jan Kath. What does 2016 offer to sooth our weary souls? Meine Damen und Herren, Ich vorstelle die ‘CarpetHammock’ von REUBER HENNING!

'Farmland' from Reuber Henning's 'Stripes' Collection.

Different Stripes | Reuber Henning

9 April 2016 Michael Christie Noteworthy

‘How many striped rugs have we seen before?’ begins REUBERHENNING’s Birgit Krah as if she was the one asking the questions. ‘Some are nice, a lot are boring, but stripes have always been fascinating to me. It’s a timeless pattern found in fashion, furniture, and art, even in nature. Never out, always in, the design remains classic and modern, conservative yet freaky all dependant upon how you wear it or [as is the case with carpets] which apartment we put it in.’

20th Century Inspired Carpet Design

22 February 2016 Michael Christie Ephemera, Noteworthy

In anticipation of DOMOTEX this year we published selections from each category of the Carpet Design Awards. Selections of course[…]

The Carpets of Nepal | Part I

25 May 2015 Michael Christie Noteworthy

As an industry we bring modernity with all of its inconsequential demands to a place where subsistence agrarian culture still dominates the economy, where manual labour is a way of life, and were exploitation (in wide ranging and various forms) is still a major concern. We also have the ability to bring hope, compassion, understanding, and as I’ve called for, real empathy for the Nepali people. We do this by honouring them for all that they’ve done for us, and by continuing to work with them as they rebuild their country. They are a “patient, studious, artistic, nuanced and extremely hard working people, and I would not be who I am without them.” says Tom DeMarco of Kooches, speaking words universal to any serious designer of modern carpets. With that, The Ruggist presents a photographic journey that explores the best of Nepali made carpets.