ExtravagantExtravagant

Dutch Design is not generally synonymous with flamboyant excess. But a bit of exaggeration and opulence is actually no bad thing. We're diving into the New Year with nothing but flamboyant excess in our line-up. Sometimes less is less.

Toon Koehorst is one of the co-curators and designers of the new exhibition Designing the Surface at Het Nieuwe Instituut. Here he combines tuning, decorative paintwork and lustre in a decadent story. A feast for the senses.

Claire Meulemeesters graduated with a creative documentary portrait of the intriguing, extravagant drag queen, Salem Reed. 'We're all born naked and the rest is drag.'

Darren Smith photographed fifty drag queens under the title Red Light Sanctuary. A motley collection of outspoken and colourful personalities.

Damian O'Sullivan is a product designer. He has worked with Hermès on various collections of tableware and porcelain such as Rallye 24, Voyage en Ikat, Carnets d'Equateur and most recently Equilibre d'Hermès.

Pepijn van den Nieuwendijk makes paintings, ceramics and illustrations under the name Cirque de Pepin. His 'circus' is a metaphor for a place where anything can happen and in which fantastical beasts play a central role.

Before the Thursday Night why not grab a bite to eat with the speakers and staff of Het Nieuwe Instituut? At 18.30 Het Nieuwe Café will serve either soup with bread or a quiche with salad. Dinner vouchers are available for ¬7.50 up to a day before the particular Thursday Night event via the Tickets link on this page.