Objects of Desire

Whether you are scrolling through Instagram to imbue your look with streamlined freshness or to indulge in thoughtfully sourced investment pieces, Anouk Yvette Bos — aka Anouk Yve — covers just that and still something more. Here, she talks about her burgeoning ceramics career, how to take heed of decorating a home and her journey to the ‘real me’.

Finding home in the Northern region of The Netherlands, known for its impressive array of museums, among many distinctions, it seems fitting that ceramics artist and self-made entrepreneur, Anouk Bos set up shop. Residing and traveling through some of the world’s most desirable destinations — London, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Glasgow, Newport Beach — Bos was sure to pick up a thing or two. A self-proclaimed “detailist” (not to be confused with perfectionist), this artist is deemed both passionate and creative. Originally a brand strategist, now a fully branded platform, her journey began with a clear goal: “working in fashion and journalism.”

Landing a position at one of the largest bag companies in Europe at the age of 22, Bos worked her way up to marketing manager, responsible for five bag brands and two corporate brands. After five years, the visionary quit her job to start her own business: a fashion blog collective. “It was the time fashion blogs started to become booming,” begins the professional, “most of the brands now say, ‘you were the first influencer agency in The Netherlands’. That was in 2010. I was a pioneer. I launched my own blog in 2012.” Leaving the blog collective in 2015, Bos discovered the influence of Instagram. “Everybody was on Instagram. As was I,” reminisced the artist. “I had my network, knew all the girls, and attended fashion weeks.” However, the real turning point was when the media mogul decided to sell her wardrobe to focus on building a small capsule wardrobe of quality, toned down, neutral and minimal pieces. The first photo showcasing her “new me”, her real self, garnished much engagement. “That was in 2018, so again I was a pioneer as there weren’t many other girls focusing on slow fashion back then. I just followed what was logical to do for me and it turned out there were groups of women wanting the same thing: a practical stylish wardrobe,” acknowledged Bos.

Leading to what we know and follow today as Anouk Yve, Bos has established a platform all about personal, timeless style, ceramics and a new and exciting project to be rolled out in 2021. Descended from a family of artists, mainly painters, Bos always knew she wanted to immerse in something other than painting, “that became ceramics as a hobby to balance out my online screen time with offline craftsmanship,” reveals the artist. “First I did it to relax myself, to set my mind somewhere else.” Growing up in the middle of nature in a region called Drenthe, known for the “hunebedden”, these dolmen were created by peasant tribes 5000 years ago. “Fifty-four of these graves have stood the test of time,” admired Bos. “Each passage grave is a tomb made from enormous, solid stones. The stones were left behind after the penultimate ice age and weigh up to 40 tons each. They found old pottery in the graves.

This is where my love for stones, pottery and ceramics actually began. The fascination of something so old but still so tangible is something that drives me. It also inspired me in my work. For instance, I work with a saw dust oven where you smoke out ceramics and decorate the objects with leaves and grasses from this region. I have learned that I love to create organically shaped objects. Whenever I try to be more masculine or with harder lines I end up smashing my pieces and start over. Everything I make is shaped by my hands and the palm of my thumb to create organic lines.” Practicing ceramics for over three years now, Bos continues to gain knowledge from two very talented women who have been practicing themselves since the 80’s.

Not seeking “perfection” in her ceramic objects, “it is about contrast isn’t it?” questions Bos. “Everything in life is. I think it’s so nice to embrace the imperfections. For instance, I have a scoliosis myself, and the odd thing is, when I create a woman’s figure her spine is always a bit curved. Embrace your imperfections.” Even her coveted style displays contrast as she is drawn to the combination of masculine and feminine styles; but what about her home? “I live in the middle of a nature preserve with a big lake just in front of our house and bird species you wouldn’t find anywhere else in The Netherlands,” describes the artist. “So we built the house with nature in mind. The kitchen is the most important, so that had to be built higher to overlook the lakes and sunset while I’m cooking. Then you go one level down to the living room which feels more tucked away in the garden, almost like a sitting pit. The beating heart of the house is the salon/hallway which is seven meters high and from there you can see the kitchen and other rooms via a large indoor window. Nature helped us design our home. Living in Scandinavian cities highly influenced my interior design taste, but I sometimes find Scandinavian brands too clean, so I mix it up with midcentury pieces. The wood is more burned and I love the warmth it adds to neutrals like grey, off white and beige.”

Not attracted to seasonal trends often displayed in the fashion circuit, Bos sets herself apart from other visionaries with her focus on “the longterm feeling.” Viewing interior design as she does her fashion, as a lifestyle, “the neutrals you’ll find in my closet you’ll find in my home and vice versa. The stuff I wear is built on making me feel good, and so is my interior.” Noting the importance of personifying your living space with carefully selected objects, Bos advocates the significance of exploration and investment. “A table looks so much more chic with a cool and unique object or collectible on it.” For those less inclined with the knowledge for interior design, the artist believes the key component for constructing a space is to begin with a blank slate. “Remove everything you have and reread the room,” begins Bos. “Sometimes even a different shade curtain in combination with a different color wall can do the trick. Also, think differently. Are you looking for a certain sideboard but cannot find the right one? Design it yourself with the help of a local manufacturer. I did that and it will give your home something truly special.” Having to touch on the ever-sensitive subject: building a home with a significant other, Bos laughs as she reminisces on her very experience. “Jos, my partner, is letting me be, but I recently redid his ‘man cave’. It’s beautiful now with a big reupholstered 70’s couch, a cool danish 50’s high-board, brutalist tables, etc., but is it still a ‘man cave’?” laughs the artist. “He likes it, but feels the urge to add the occasional self-build Lego car and that’s of course all fine.”

“It is about contrast isn’t it? Everything in life is. I think it’s so nice to embrace the imperfections.”

Getting back to the business at hand, we had to inquire the plans Bos has for her evolving platform. “My business goals are very aligned with my personal goals in life and that is to feel grateful and appreciative,” states the artist. “We live in a society where we want more and more and more. Slow down, and look at what you have. Reinvent. When working on my new project I don’t envision that I want to become a millionaire. I envision me working from home whilst still being able to pick my kids up from school. Thus: I envision a perfect life /work balance and to me that’s more important than anything.” If she is unapologetic for anything, it is for “living the life I live.” “Stay true to yourself. Always,” further encourages the artist. “I only take on jobs that truly match my personality. I learned to trust my gut feeling, it never disappoints me. And it will never disappoint you either. There is a certain power in saying ‘no’. I’m sometimes more proud of myself by saying no, than saying yes.” Saying a vague “yes” to our biggest question: will Anouk Yve take her platform from ceramics to apparel? “That’s a great question,” hints Bos, “because I’m currently working on a new project. I have a large network and yes, I am working on something at the moment, self-supported. So stay tuned. I’m launching in the summer of 2021 and it’s something cool.”

Photographer: Alina Krasieva — *Photographer:* *Alina Krasieva*