MAKI Rugs
What’s your name and where are you based?
Taylor Maki, Vancouver BC
Can you describe your practice in a few words?
I design rugs and other soft functional objects.
How did your curiosity for creating begin?
A love for interior design, collecting and an urge to DIY everything runs in my family, so as long as I can remember.
Growing up, you spent hours building websites and experimenting with HTML and CSS. What kinds of websites were you making?
Personal websites full of everything I loved- Pages dedicated to musicians, random images I liked, fashion, games, just small curated pages I would go to hangout like you would your bedroom with all of your things. Also got deep into Power Point and made an intricate 50 slide presentation dedicated to female vocalists I loved. Kinda just cut outs of Fergie, Nelly Furtado, Rihanna flying around the screen.
Looking back, do you see those early experiments as your first design practice?
I definitely do! I really got to play with layout, colour and media. It being the mid to late 2000’s I feel was a nice sweet spot for useability and learning at my age- The internet wasn’t completely congested with paywalls. I’m not by any means “good” at computer stuff though, I will still try and cheat my way into getting an effect or tool on a program like Procreate or Cargo instead of actually learning how to use it.
What first drew you to rug making?
I used to embroider a bit as a hobby, then made a mini loom out of a tray and started making small squares in different patterns out of embroidery thread and gave them to friends as drink coasters. It was the first time a hobby became potentially useful for someone else- So that was exciting, then I wanted to make rugs using the same technique, but then I learned about machine tufting and started experimenting with that in 2021.
Your rugs resemble a combination of digital interfaces, maps, diagrams, and circuitry. Where do these visual references come from?
Originally I was strictly drawn to the visual aspects of these things before I realized how related they are. I really enjoy these sort of technical references because they represent a whole system that is complete. Every part a place and a function, which is a comforting concept.
You often speak about systems in your work. Do you see your rugs as something to be read in a particular way?
Things do feel strictly visual during the design process, I focus on balance, symmetry and the relationship between the colours I choose. But I want others to draw from them whatever they want to. I’m always fascinated to know what others see in the designs. You can learn something new about someone that way.
What usually inspires you to create? Are there any recurring references or ideas you find yourself returning to?
I love to walk- I always have my phone on me in case I need to take a photo. An over-cast day or when the sun has just gone down is the best time for dull colours to shine. My camera roll is full of old sun faded window displays, signage, cracking surfaces and buildings, funny cars, outdated electronics. When I’m back home in Kelowna I love the dry desert climate, dried up bushes and faded colours, beige grass, dusty dirt and cacti, tiny bright flowers.
How have the places you’ve lived and the communities you’ve been part of shaped your vision and practice?
My practice has changed a lot- I started tufting in my mom’s house, then the basement of a house in vancouver, then a couple shared studio spaces in industrial buildings in Montreal, then back to my mom’s basement, and once I started outsourcing the rugs with a company in India – All I need is a work desk to design, which I have in a shared space with some wonderful people back here in Vancouver. I prefer working in the company of others. The more artist I meet and places I go/live, the more I’ve learned about what I want out of what I’m doing- which ultimately is community and stability so the new ideas can come in and grow.
Where can people find you?
makirugs.ca , @makirugs on IG,
OBJ:OBJ- A Contemporary Design Exhibition in Vancouver September 25-27, Oct 4-5.
