Sandwiches on the wall and pickles on canvas: an interview with Mignon Nusteling

Mignon Nusteling ( @mignonnus ) is not just any artist. With her refreshing view on art and life, she brings color to the world, literally and figuratively. From the busy port of Rotterdam to a rustic farmhouse in Drenthe, Mignon's journey is one of discovery and growth. In this article, she shares her passion for accessible art, her unique view on interior style, and her plans for a B&B that combines art and hospitality. Let yourself be carried away by Mignon's world, where humor and depth go hand in hand, and where a glass egg ball symbolizes a new chapter. An interview about the colorful, sometimes crazy, but always authentic world of this versatile artist.

Tell me, who are you and what do you do?

My name is Mignon Nusteling and I work as an artist. I once thought: If I want people to buy art, I have to make sure they see it. Because I am secretly not the most socially adept butterfly on the bush, I knew that I had to do it my way. That is why I became very active on social media. I post a lot about art and culture, but also about personal and everyday things. People like it when art and museums are presented in an accessible way. I want people to experience that art is also something for them, and how great it is to buy something handmade for yourself - just because you like it! That is why I have a very transparent and user-friendly webshop for my own work . But I also carry out this mission in museums, for example by giving guided tours and workshops that suit a younger, more relaxed target group.

Can you tell us about your decision to move from Rotterdam to a small farm in Drenthe? What attracted you to the rural life?

I have lived my whole life at the harbour and the Maas, I even wrote a book about Dordrecht. That is why many people thought that I was married to my life in Rijnmond, but that is not the case. I spent a large part of my childhood with my grandparents in the mountains of the South of France, and that life has always slumbered in my mind as a sweet memory. I have a form of autism, which made me increasingly dislike the increasingly busy city. As clear as mathematics I already knew that the city could not make me happy. With my Volkswagen camper I travelled through the Netherlands every free moment, and it started to become noticeable that I was driving towards the Hondsrug more and more often. Sometimes I would drive back to the Randstad crying. When Sebastian and I watched the sunset somewhere in Borger-Odoorn and felt completely chill, we said: "We could just move here." From Rotterdam to a village was actually inevitable. Sebastian grew up in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen, so he already had experience. Drenthe is a fairytale country and has a special history, from prehistory to the peat colonies, we also like to learn about it.

How would you describe your interior style? Has the move to Drenthe influenced this style?

Oops, difficult! Then eclectic is always a good answer, right? There are a few things I really like, like Dutch and German design. But I also like colored plastic and vintage. I think balance is an important word, because if you only work with brightly colored furniture, your house is like Smålland. Only vintage or timeless Gispen lacks the crazy wink that is so nice in a house. For me, the triangle of a glance is always: A timeless piece of furniture in a calm shade, a striking European design in a bright color, and a crazy handmade accent, like a lamp in the shape of a baguette. Humor is also a must for me. The move to Drenthe did cause some puzzling, in our farmhouse we have a lot of sloping walls and the top floor is only 1.75m high. Before that we lived in a large loft. It invites us to come up with creative solutions, and we have to take the time to do that.

You are going to start a B&B in/near your farm. Can you tell us more about your plans and what guests can expect when they stay with you?

I think it would be fantastic to let people experience how exciting and enriching it is to live among crazy art. Ultimately, our Sleephouse Chutzpah should become a luxurious experience with crispy sheets, but also a place that stimulates and amazes. For example, I plan to cover one wall completely with sandwiches that come out of the wall. We hope that people will forget to explore the area because they enjoy all the beauty around them. Of course, there are all kinds of tasty things ready for people, because we also want to surprise people with humor and craftsmanship in the culinary field.

🐷 Party piggy bank or piggy bank

Important side note: to get this cool B&B plan off the ground, Mignon has created this fun and smart campaign: 'Party Pig or Savings Pig'. The work, a mixed media painting in a small edition, is offered at a lower price than regular work, because this is a fun way to collect enough money to renovate the art B&B in Drenthe. By purchasing such an art pig, you help make that dream come true. Click here for your copy

You like to make art accessible to a wide audience. Why is that so important to you, and how do you ensure that your work is understandable to everyone?

Art is something magical, it brings the inner world out. I once made a work about heartbreak and people found support in it; the feeling that gnawed at them finally had a form that they could show to someone else. Through art, mutual understanding can grow. But it can also make you angry, astonish you, make you think. It is simply a wonderful feeling to see something that only exists because someone else made it.

It's fantastic to have a painting in your home that is made of real paint, that seems to change in vibrancy as the sun turns. I want people to experience that wonder and beauty. And people usually let me know! Then I get a message saying: "Because of you I bought my first real piece of art and I can't stop looking at it!" I think that's great. It is addictive, buying art . I never say that, haha.

You also collect objects and art, what is your nicest/newest acquisition?

I always try to have a visual memento for life-changing moments. For example, we have quite a bit of Rotterdam art in our home and even a COVID memento. Collecting art is also a kind of journaling. For our adventure in the North, I recently bought a glass egg ball from Studio Glazen Boterham , a popular snack in the area.

Do you have a top 3 artist, illustrator, brand, store, webshop where you like to shop for your interior?

I love the work of ceramic artist Mickey Philips . Simplicity is key, but with a wink. I like to shop at ByBranderhorst in Dordrecht. She is an unparalleled master at combining art, design and fun gadgets in her gallery shop, which truly functions as a crazy seductive candy store. And finally, I would like to give you a slightly different kind of tip, and that is fotolijsten.nl . Paintings, photos and prints can be beautifully framed, often making the work twice as beautiful. With a good passe-partout, a work actually shouts: "Look at me! I deserve attention!" Give it breathing space, take good care of it! I myself always choose colour. For canvases, I think light wooden frames are beautiful.

In your free work you investigate the sentiment of the Netherlands. What is a hype that you have recently become fascinated by?

My latest painting is about the image of Salmari and Dropshot, and how your favorite shot can actually be a secret handshake. Many city dwellers despise Dropshot and are crazy about Salmari, and I find it funny how defensively people react to questions about it. I am currently working on a painting about the popularity of pickles. Pickles have a long history in, for example, Jewish culture, so they have always been there. How can the pickle suddenly become a microtrend and then just as quickly die a silent death? It is a coincidence that my last two works are about food, by the way. Although it is always interesting.

Humor plays a big part in your work, but you don't shy away from serious topics like mental health. How do you find this balance in both your art and your online presence?

I am not really concerned with the balance between humor and serious matters. I think these two things have been hopping through my head hand in hand my whole life. With humor I make the heavy things bearable, and with a bit of depth humor often becomes even more fun, I think. In addition, people are more willing to listen to serious subjects if there is a tongue in cheek. So that is a bonus. Charles Dickens once said it beautifully, and I agree with him: "Humor takes the world as it is, does not try to improve or convert it, but does try to bear it with wisdom, because it is and will remain a mad world."

More: www.mignonnusteling.nl and follow here: @mignonnus