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Artist Series: Muvek

ARTIST SERIES

MUVEK

When Chris van Niekerk returned to Cape Town after several years in Budapest, he didn't come alone. He and János Cserháti had met there—a chance encounter that became both a partnership and a creative practice. What started without a plan soon evolved into MŪVEK, built around a small collection inspired by a single table.

Three years on, they're still expanding on that initial inspiration. Chris brings an architect's precision and sculptural sensibility, while János steers the business, research and production that bring each design to life. Every piece is discussed, refined and agreed upon together, a process that, like any shared life, relies on conversation and compromise.

Above: János (left) and Chris (right) in their studio, featuring MŪVEK designs: the MŪ202 Steel Mirror, the MŪ193 Chair, the MŪ812 Table and the MŪ16181 Shelving System.
János is standing beside a sculpture by Kyle Morland.

Where did the name MUVEK originate?

János: We both have Hungarian heritage, so the name is the Hungarian word for 'works'. It's used to refer to works in industry but also in art. The dual meaning really captures what we're trying to do with furniture design. It's an artistic endeavour. But also an industrial process.

How do new designs typically begin?

Chris: It's about knowing what material I have in mind. I start with the physicality, how to manipulate the material into becoming something useful. And beautiful. Without beauty, it's not really a useful thing.
János: The design needs to express its construction. You should be able to see that it was made by hand. For that reason, we don't conceal construction details. Sometimes the junctions taper to an elegant point, almost creating the illusion that the piece shouldn't be standing, which gives it great character and tension.

What's your secret to working together?

Chris: I think it's a consequence of our shared interests. There wouldn't be a way for us to live together and not share work as well—it's innately woven into our lives.
János: When both of us are working hard on something, disagreements are inevitable, but the focus is always to create something out of it.

Is every piece a collaboration?

János: We talk through every design, but Chris can spend weeks or months developing an idea.
Chris: I'm an architect by training and now a self-taught furniture designer. Usually, an idea can emerge very quickly, within a few hours. I'm not the biggest sketcher, but I use it to establish direction before moving straight to the computer to model it.
János: Once we start to realise it, that's when the discussion really begins.

And what happens when you're not on the same page?

János: I'm very direct. It saves energy to get it out there rather than spend more time on something that might not work. Oftentimes, it pivots into something a thousand times more productive.
Chris: I'll never be like, “No, I have to do it this way.” If he thinks it's horrible, I'll stop and reassess.
János: I'm the first customer.
Chris: Yeah, exactly.

What's it been like, building a creative life in Cape Town?

János: Moving was definitely a big change. Coming from Europe, I discovered this city has an incredible network of creatives who are extremely self-sufficient. It's inspiring. Cape Town is far from larger markets, but the local community works hard to overcome that distance, and from that, a real do-it-yourself creativity emerges. It's great to be among them.

MŪ61 Lounge Chairs in solid walnut and leather, and the MŪ311 Coffee Table in waxed mild steel and Kalahari Springs granite.

This chair is probably our most complex design to date. Even the manufacturer said, “This will never work, it’ll break.” But I knew it wouldn’t. There’s a hidden trick in there that makes the chair impossible to break. CHRIS VAN NIEKERK