HENK Visits Cindy Bakker
In the series “HENK Visits”, we visit inspiring people to take a look at their daily lives at home. This time, we are in bustling Rotterdam, visiting artist and photographer Cindy Bakker. Cindy is known for her large, colourful sculptures and installations, in which she plays with form and function. She draws her inspiration from everyday things you might encounter outside: traffic signs, bollards or playground equipment: playful beauty that she translates into her art in objects made of wood, polystyrene and plaster.
In her home – which she shares with her boyfriend, their newborn son Lio and cat Plato – everything revolves around colour, creativity and character. We spoke to Cindy about her work, interior design and what she is known for: colour.
Can you briefly introduce yourself?
Yes, hi! I'm Cindy Bakker. I'm a visual artist, photographer and also a teacher at the art academy. Welcome to my home in Rotterdam.
How would you describe your interior style?
I would describe my interior style as a very calm, timeless base with a pop of colour here and there. My boyfriend and I are both artists and see furniture as sculptures in your home. We often look for beautiful, timeless materials, but we are drawn to distinctive designs such as the Lean Lounge.
Why do you enjoy working with colour so much and how do you translate that into your work/interior?
I use a lot of colour in my work; my artworks are very large and very colourful, but in my interior I keep colour a bit subtle because this is the place where I want to relax – that's why I use colour in my interior, but not in excess.
Why do you use colour in your work?
To shout!! Hahaha. Well, good question. I think my fascination with colour in everyday life is reflected in a very primary colour and shape language. I always translate that into sculptures in outdoor spaces. You simply can't ignore that colour.
How do you see your love of art reflected in your home?
I collect a lot of art and I really save up for it. Or I ask an artist to create something like the work you see above me. So you can definitely see my love for art reflected in my home. Almost all the objects in the house are somewhere between designer furniture and art. We have art by Ruth van Beek, Annemarieke van Drimmelen, Femke Dekkers, Roosje Donselaar, Ine Lamers, Marleen Sleeuwits, among others. A striking number of women!
What inspires your art?
Everyday life, for example a red and white barrier or a yellow parking bollard, in fact all those everyday banal things that we all use, I translate into my sculptures. Much of my work stems from personal memories. These memories come to life through the choice of universal forms, colours and materials that exist around us every day, but which have their own personal meaning for me. In my work, I often use basic, primary elements—forms, colours and materials that, in their simplicity, evoke a deeper sense of recognition. For example, my work Farm (2023) is a reflection of the memory of my grandfather and his farm. The installation of hay bales, combined with large areas of colour, is my attempt to transform his world—the tractor, the cows, the land—into a tangible form. What I find remarkable is how people, even though they come from different backgrounds, recognise their own personal stories in these simple elements. Hay bales may symbolise long car journeys to the French countryside for one person, while for another they may evoke memories of holidays or family. The simplification of forms, materials and colours brings out a new layer of association, one that is unique to each individual. My work balances between recognition and alienation, and I play with this constantly changing, fluid visual language. In my work, I often ask myself: how can I simplify an everyday reference?
What is your favourite interior object in your home?
I think lighting. You can create so much atmosphere with it, and they are all classics that we have saved up for, such as Santa & Cole and Gubi as brands, or designers such as Muller van Severen and Verner Panton. They are really icons in your home that give light.
Which room in your home feels most like you?
The dining room. We love cooking. My boyfriend is Greek and cooks delicious food, and we spend a lot of time dining at the table. So we spend most of our time there. We're not really TV people either. Maybe the dining room and the bookcase.
Do you have a favourite colour to work with?
I find yellow a very friendly colour and it features a lot in my work. But I don't have a favourite colour, it's often an impossible choice.
Do you have a favourite colour in your home?
I don't consciously choose a particular colour, but I do use a lot of natural colours, such as green, but with just a slight twist. I also see a lot of blue, the colour of the sky and the sea. I think it's important to have a calm, warm, timeless base. A tip: paint everything in the same warm shade. We did this in our house too. The ceiling, the window frames, the walls, everything in a warm shade. And add colour as accents. In our house, the bright green and soft powder blue colours stand out, creating a feeling of nature in the home.
