“The art world has a unique, potent voice that can amaze, surprise, shock, teach and stun”

Originally from a small coastal town in the Netherlands, Arthur Groeneveld started as a one-man show with his first company, A Guy Named Arturo. He then co-founded the creative consulting collective 1kg before he and his partner in business and life, Bamboo van Kampen, began working with clients ranging from boutique hotels to publications through their agency, Arturo Bamboo. While working with such diverse businesses, institutions and individuals might seem overwhelming, Arthur has learned to allow the stress to extend and not shrink his creative boundaries.

You jump between a lot of different mediums. How does this breathe life into your work?
This diversity along with its many spillover effects is what makes my work so absorbing. At one point I realized that you only have one life—it’s short and work makes up such a big part of it—so it better be fulfilling! Each project, market and client is very different, and this makes the work interesting.

How is doing consulting work for a fashion brand different from working with an art or an architectural company?
The art world is an amazing but difficult environment to work in: It has a unique, potent voice that can amaze, surprise, shock, teach and stun. Art’s language is universal, and museums and galleries have the power to get you out of your daily routine and make you see things differently. Architecture is a completely separate realm where so much comes together—it’s like dressing the world to be ready for the future. And when working with fashion, I automatically connect the brand to other creative disciplines and create something real and human, which are two values that can be absent in this fast-paced world.

How do you channel your fears into creative energy?
Adrenaline is what keeps me going. Sometimes a stressful moment pushes me to the next level and another state of mind where special things can happen. When a project is coming together really nicely, I feel a different kind of energy—an exciting one. It’s all about keeping these different forms of adrenaline in balance.

Do you think that being a “jack-of-all-trades, master of none” is the future for creatives?
Of course “knowing a little about a lot” has certain limitations, but to me, it’s not a bad thing. The new generation seems to go through 10 different jobs in 10 years rather than just staying in one job for 10 years, and this development shows a certain shift in society. It’s not about safety and money in the long term; it’s about life here and now, learning new skills and pushing your own boundaries.

Please tell us about your home.
I live in a cozy Altbau apartment in Berlin-Neukölln with my girlfriend, Bamboo. It’s my favorite area in Berlin: It’s next to the airport-turned-public park, Tempelhof, and has lots of cafés, stores and a great weekly market. When we moved, our home had just been renovated with ceiling ornaments, perfect white walls and simple wooden flooring. In order to maintain creative space for ideas and projects in our heads, we try to keep our house minimal yet warm with a combination of pieces inherited from Bamboo’s great-grandmother, art from friends and newer furniture.

What do you like to do to unwind?
To completely relax and slow down, Bamboo and I spend time in nature. Whether it’s at the seaside or in the snow, I’m always completely stunned by the power, space and silence of nature. You tend to forget this while living in a city, and I feel more and more attracted to it. Simple pleasures such as reading books, painting, watching films, enjoying food and wine with friends and visiting exhibitions and museums also relax me.

When not working, what do you do in your personal time to spark inspiration?
One of my biggest passions is traveling: Getting to know new cultures and being inspired by people is the most incredible energizer. Jogging along the sea or going snowboarding works like meditation and gives me space in my head—the best ideas come during these sessions. It’s amazing to be active, out in nature and to have this certain feeling of freedom.