Why New York? With Gabriele Chiave
Gabriele Chiave, the long-time and now former Creative Director of Marcel Wanders Studio is now starting his new life (and that of his wife and baby) in New York City. Knowing each other for a long time and also as a lover of New York, we wanted to know why. So we asked him!
Chiave recently relocated from Amsterdam in The Netherlands to New York City.
Why New York?
I moved around a lot as a child and since I visited at the age of 11, I always wanted to experience New York. It is one of the most active, interesting and advanced cities in arts/design/culture. I received a once in a lifetime opportunity – and I took it!
It is the perfect connecting city from Europe to the States and has the flavor and identifies more like Europe – not just the city but its people. They say New Yorkers are bold, rough but I think we share this.
I feel like New York is a platform– center of the world – which can give me a podium that I’m inspired and attracted to on a much larger global scale. I have been in a cool, boutique niche and with this move, now a bigger scale, where I want to make an impact and a difference. Also from NY, I can explore the States – the country. Further, New York has great architecture and character with an interesting historical background.
Gabriele Chiave
How did marriage and fatherhood affect you?
It changes you drastically; you are not alone anymore. I feel more important and fulfilled with a daughter and family.
I was always travelling with my family all over the world, so family was the fixed and stable thing. When I first came to Milan and Netherlands, 15 years ago, before a child, I was fine. I bought a house. Then with my wife and child, I thought I’d be here in the Netherlands. But then opportunities came and you must embrace what life brings you, which my family always did. I had a responsibility with family and then travel, I felt it important to give back to my child the same experience I had with my parents. We explored different cultures and it was valuable to respect and understand. When the opportunity presented itself with New York as the base, I so wanted that. If it was Europe, I wouldn’t leave Amsterdam …but New York! Why not? With my wife and a small child, I can have the experience with the family. Learn, explore and share with your loved ones. We do it together as a team. It’s going to be amazing as a life adventure. Some people say – “oh, but the kid will suffer” – but I know it is really good and wonderful.
What are you looking forward to?
To really grow and learn what I don’t know. Go out of my comfort zone, to be challenged and questioned. I will learn new things and do it with my family. Growth and learning and connecting the dots. Another thing is Controvento. This is within the design context which allows me to stay between New York and Europe and companies that I know and love. There is a lot of synergy to be made. I don’t want to leave one world for another and I’m lucky to have the chance to keep both worlds to bring them together in a different way, perhaps.
What haven’t I asked about you? What question should I ask you?
I guess “what makes you happy; what makes you afraid?”
My concerns and doubts? I think everyone has some fears and questions about yourself. The more you have the more you have to face and go towards them and do it. It’s good to have human fears and question yourself. If you feel some butterflies, then you have to face them.
Happy is easy! The new adventure with my family. I want to have the time to enjoy my baby and family. That’s a priority and make sure it is a great adventure for the three of us. Work was my life, it’s my passion, and fear is that I want to be able to try to disconnect and be more connected to my family. I think I’ll need a bit of training frankly.
I want to organize myself better….not just be a free spirit of creativity but be there for my family.
