With a fascination for art, Maribel Beekman Hetharia started her studies Product Design at the HKU in 2018. She is guided by new insights that she gains through coincidences in her work process. This ensures that she works playfully, which is also reflected in her designs. The interplay of art and product design ensures that Maribel manifests herself both as a product designer and as an autonomous artist. The aesthetic choice is just as important as the functionality of the product. Despite this mindset, some products are seen more as an art object than as a functional product.
Her love for ceramics and metal arose during her studies. She noticed while experimenting that she found the opposite characteristics of the material very interesting. These contrasts created a common thread in her work. Always looking for a way to visualize ‘issues’ without judging other people. She only tries to encourage her audience to look differently at products/artwork, in order to see an object more as a whole.
“I like to balance on a line between life and work, a little bit of both, that’s what gives me peace of mind. It ensures that I continue to challenge myself because I want to show the harmony of art and science.”