OUR STORY

It took us a while to launch our first collection, especially when we think back to the source of inspiration that ultimately led to the first collection and the vision we now have for FORAL. We, the creators, were inspired by the possibilities of science and knowledge during our studies in Econometrics in Rotterdam and Mechanical Engineering in Delft. By learning from each other and observing one another, we saw, along with our studies, the possibilities of mechanization, automation, and optimization. Both mechanization and optimization can be seen in the modern society in which we live as a global population. For example, the modern production lines of cars with many steps executed by advanced robotic arms that can often deliver faster and more precise work than the humans they have replaced is an example of mechanization. Optimization can also be found in the things we use daily, such as the proposed shortest route we consult daily.

The drive for efficiency and automation has several effects, both positive and negative. While production may become faster and more efficient in terms of material use, the end product may also lose its charm and authenticity. Everyone is different and has their preferences, yet we at FORAL are convinced that there are also many beautiful aspects to the developments in the aforementioned areas. Especially when focusing on the techniques used, we believe that skill, inventiveness, and also beauty become visible.

Inspired by this, we set out to combine and showcase the beauty of mechanization and optimization. Densly populated places have a natural inclination towards these two things, even if only to avoid the inhabitants getting in each other's way as much as possible. For this reason, cities became our source of inspiration. The skyline of cities has always been intriguing to us because it shows, in a way, what humans are capable of.

We set out to showcase the cities we live in using these principles of mechanization and optimization. To maintain the authenticity of our art, we only produce small editions and rely solely on our own knowledge and skills. The code used to convert images into our unique patterns is based on mathematics and is handcrafted and modified by us. Additionally, we exclusively draw with a pen. Not by hand, because that is not precise enough. Instead, we use our hands to build the plotter that we use to create our art. Be sure to check out our Instagram or TikTok for more insight into the production process of our art.

We, the creators, both grew up in South Holland. With the largest population in the Netherlands, South Holland is also the most densely populated. On a global scale, it is one of the most densely populated and industrialized areas in the world, making it a beautiful place to start our story. We make art of the cities we live in, which are shaped by the people who live in them. Therefore, we believe that our art is made by all of us. To further emphasize this, our goal is to depict cities around the world, along with stories about the environment. By adding more cities to our collection, we hope to show people how beautiful and diverse the world is, encouraging them to inspire and learn from each other.

To slowly build our collection, we want to create a community in which you can decide which cities should be added first.

Our art is literally made by all and FORAL