Yokoland
Guest Posting 01 June – 05 June 2009
Coming out of college in 2006 Aslak Gurholt Rønsen and his partner in Yokoland Espen Friberg published their book “Yokoland – As we go up, we go down”. Yokoland, which they started together sometime between 2001 and 2006, was a multi-disciplinary studio functioning partly as a design studio and partly as an art collective. Since then new inhabitants have arrived, while Espen Friberg left the studio and emigrated to the US in 2007. The studio now consists of Thomas Nordby, Martin Lundell and Aslak Gurholt Rønsen, as well as a French newcomer, Yorel Cayla. We spoke with founding member Aslak Gurholt Rønsen.
What have you got planned this week?
Work, work, work (and a little bit of progress)
What do your parents think you do?
They know I’m a designer, and know very well what I do. My father is a carpenter, so we’ve even had help from him on certain projects where it’s been needed. I guess my parents are kind of surprised that I’m able to live from what I do, which is understandable. It’s quite a privilege working with something you love.
Who do you look like?
Don’t know. My father maybe?
What’s your favourite sense?
Sight. Lost it at some point because of a brain operation, and it took half a year before it was back to normal. I got quite afraid I couldn’t work as a designer at that point, so I know to appreciate it.
Tell us something people don’t know about you…
I’ve started on an education three times, but dropped out twice, and in both cases with the same teacher in charge. But he’s actually been the best teacher I’ve ever had.
Did your education count?
It did, but I learned just as much from projects outside college. College should be a place for new ideas and experimentation (but of course in a reflected and relevant way). In my case it felt opposite … it was too much about getting people ready for the working life.
What word can’t you spell?
I know it when I see it.
Tell us a good fact
Happy people live longer.
What’s Next?
Getting our website up. It’s taken ages, and someone probably thought the studio ran out of business or something, which couldn’t be further from the truth. We’ve just been way too busy for the last two years.
What’’s your ‘Plan B’?
Start all over again.