Radical Softness
What’s your name and where are you from/based?
Hi, my Name is Niklas Jeroch. I am an artist and designer. Living and working in Berlin, Germany.
Can you describe what you do in a few words?
My practice evolves around colour, cuteness, political change with a feminist and queer view point, shapes, 3D-printing and up cycling.
Your name, Radical Softness, feels like a statement. What does “radical softness” mean to you in practice?
At Radical Softness, we defy conventions and embrace a lifestyle rooted in empowerment, innovation, and humanity. Our name reflects our belief that strength lies in vulnerability. We stand against capitalism, toxic masculinity, and inequality, championing feminism and supporting marginalized groups.
Therefore it is a statement, but also our work ethic, and a value in life that the entire team (4 people working on the project Studio Radical Softness – Maik Welland, Inga Krumme, Dr. Björn Eckhardt and me) lives by. It is our manifesto. Which you find fully on our website.
How do you navigate creating work that feels both gentle and rebellious at the same time?
First of all, I don’t know how to do things differently than how I do them. It stems from an upbringing in a hostile heteronormative world that made me feel uncomfortable most of my life in almost all parts of my life, This roughness developed into both directions: radicalize myself for safety reasons and become extra soft to build bridges. Creating anything really becomes the perfect mix of both of these strains. Everything that we make represents this belief system authentically. I studied art history and archaeology as a Bachelors degree and took a long detour in the fine arts realm as self taught artist and then ended up as a designer that is focusing on small limited editions and consciously produced artsy-design pieces. This said, I’ll find myself in between disciplines. And this is where I feel comfortable. I don’t fit in a box and this is why I can do what am doing.
Can you share the story behind one of your objects, what sparked it, and how did it evolve?
The object that started it all is our bestseller – the Organic Angel Vase. While being an artist my entire life, I had a main focus on painting most of my adult life. In 2018 I started learning 3D-modelling, due to not having a studio at that time. I worked on my first 3D-prints and sculptures alongside Dr. Björn, who is the co-founder of Studio Radical Softness. We still work very tightly together when it comes to our design process. So over the years we worked on several designs/ sculptures/ objects.
But in 2022 I created the Organic Angel Vase truly by accident. I loved the design, the colors, the shine and that you could actually use the object as a vessel.
I then had a solo show in a Gallery in Krefeld later the same year and showed 3 of these vases. They were sold out immediately. And this is something I have never experienced. Immediate sales plus a waiting list. At that time I was working part time at Platte in Berlin-Mitte (an amazing store in which we still sell our vases and other items) and we show cased the vases there first, to see how people reacted and well…3 years later and we now work with over 20 stores and we have a product range of over 15 items. I changed my focus from art to design, because I was finally able to gain regular sales and way more exposure through my creativity than ever before.
Do you see your objects as evolving with each piece you make, or do you prefer them to feel like singular works?
The beautiful thing about the design world is that it is not as stiff as the art world. You can call the things you make limited edition, you can change colourways for the same object or you can simply create something completely else. It doesn’t have to fit in with your own style or aesthetic. So I would say, to answer your question, everything that I make is to be viewed singularly.
How does Berlin, as a city, influence your creative energy and values?
I moved to Berlin 10 years ago, thinking that I would continue to work in galleries, art book publishing houses or museums. But Berlin actually opened up the possibility for me to think that I could become an artist myself. There is so much nerdy creativity in this city:, if it’s the music scene, drag, party, fashion, art, design. You name it. You have it all. But what makes it really special here and I haven’t found it anywhere else in Europe is the political motivation of everyone being involved in creative processes: the openness of the struggles of choosing this life. But what I also love is that people make concious choices regarding their production. There is so much upcycling, re-use and re-purposing of materials here. It is nice to have people around me who truly get what I am doing.
Have you found any unexpected conversations sparked by your work?
Surprisingly not. Everyone agrees with the fact that the future should be queer/ FLINTA. That it should be more eco-conscious, that we should focus on affordable housing and a social system that fights the current power structures.
I am happy to receive support from all sides. I´d love to have more uncomfortable conversations. But then again. I live in a very woke bubble.
What’s one small act of “radical softness” you wish people practiced more often?
I deeply wish that people would be able to see and accept that humans are all equal. We all share the same feelings. The same struggles. Acknowledging this would help so much to talk about emotions and deeply connect. A small act of radical softness is to share how you truly feel. even though it is scary at first – this is true strength and creates community and connection.
Where can people find you?
People can find us in different physical spaces throughout Europe ( concept stores and museum shops), but also online https://www.radicalsoftness.org
