INTERNATIONAL NAIL SPY

COPIED

4 mins

INTERNATIONAL NAIL SPY

ALEX FOX explores nail trends, innovations & events across the globe

NAIL ART MAKES PIT STOP IN MAASTRICHT MUSEUM

The Bonnefanten Museum in Maastricht, the Netherlands, hosted an installation with a difference in September, inviting artist, Tanja Ritterbex, to open the doors to her ‘Nail Art Studio’.

Tanja explains: “I came up with the idea in 2014, as I was personally very interested in nail art. Focusing on such a small surface area gave me a sense of calm, but it got a bit out of hand. I tend to become obsessively interested in things, and before I knew it, I was collecting every nail colour, stamp and brush I could. What started as a small nail polish shelf in my bedroom grew into a massive rack in my art studio. I added extra shelves, built a platform underneath and placed a pink table inside. That’s how a nail art studio came to exist within my art studio.

Image courtesy of Instagram.com/tanjaritterbex

“Other artists would visit, and I’d invite them to take part in performances in the nail art studio,” Tanja continues. “I didn’t just paint nails; I sang, danced and wrote poetry in the studio. However, it was the nail polish bottles that sparked stories.

“My aim for the nail art studio was to bring men and women closer together, allowing for a social exchange of ideas – not necessarily limited to nail art. I wanted to immerse people in my nail world, and they would tell me things about their lives they had never shared with anyone else. This also sparked great ideas for other projects, such as paintings, because I filmed everything.”

Tanja shares what nail art means to her: “It represents tranquility and infinite possibilities. I’m currently working on a 2.5 x 2 metre canvas, yet when I sit at the nail desk and look at my nails, I think: ‘Anything is possible within this tiny space, too’. I often set up a palette with three nail polish colours and mix these to paint on the small surface. I might then add glitter, rhinestones, stamps and stickers.”

Though an unusual find in a museum, Tanja reveals that her nail art studio has travelled to multiple locations: “The installation originated in Amsterdam, then exhibited at Arti et Amicitiae, Museum Kranenburgh, Stedelijk Museum

"I wanted museum visitors to leave feeling less stressed and more at peace – and possibly inspired to try nail art themselves!

Kampen and now the Bonnefanten Museum. As the artist, I was given the freedom to arrange the museum wing exactly as I wished. The nail art studio is an ongoing installation; the setup changes slightly each time, often depending on the size of the space, but the platform, table and nail polish rack remain constant elements. A video is also shown as part of the installation, which dates back to its early days, when I invited artists to perform in the space.”

When quizzed on the messaging of the nail art studio, Tanja relays: “I want to showcase my work in all its facets. I am not just a painter; I am also a feminist and woman, and I want that to be evident. I used to go to parties in Düsseldorf and paint the nails of both men and women, and at the Bonnefanten Museum, I invited attendees to have one of their nails painted by me. I view these experiences as soothing rituals involving deliberate, steady movements. I wanted museum visitors to leave feeling less stressed and more at peace – and possibly inspired to try nail art themselves!”

www.bonnefanten.nl

@tanjaritterbex

TREND TALK

By Mariia Bodnar: nail technician, educator & owner of Glossy Nails Art in Leiden, the Netherlands

“Dutch clients have a soft spot for ‘clean girl’ nails, as nude, milky and soft pink styles, alongside elegant French manicures and natural-looking builder gel overlays, are most requested in the salon,” details Mariia. “Most clients want nail looks that are effortlessly polished, expensive-looking and versatile.

“However, every now and again, a client breaks this pattern. Suddenly, the neutral colour palette disappears and out come chrome powders, cat eye gel polishes and bold nail shades, as we play with colour combinations and new designs. Those appointments keep the creative side of our jobs alive, and often produce some of our favourite nail looks.”

Mariia continues: “Another trend that we’re seeing – and enjoying – in the Netherlands is clients being more conscious about their natural nails. They are asking questions about which treatments suit them, how to maintain healthy natural nails and which products will give them the best long-term results.”

@glossy_nails_art_nl

POWDER PEDICURE TREND MESMERISES SOUTH KOREA

The ‘powder pedicure’ is a nail trend that has been growing in popularity in South Korean salons. Popularised by Priére Nail Studio in Daegu, the technique uses syrup gel under pearlescent chrome powder to make toenails appear milky, luminous and glazed.

After precision cuticle work and structural nail shaping, the gel is thinly applied and cured, before chrome powder is buffed into the nail and the look is sealed with glossy gel polish top coat. Burnishing the powder onto no-wipe gel works well, as the fine chrome particles create a streak-free, smooth mirror effect without any graininess.

The most popular iteration of the trend is the white powder pedicure, which has earned over 2.3 million likes in one of Priére Nail Studio’s Instagram posts. However, the salon has also showcased baby blue, pink and French powder pedicures, delighting its following of over 640K.