
WILD AT HEART
In their latest book, Magali Elali and partner Bart Kiggen ventured behind the closed doors of creatives who share their much-adored abodes with their much-adored pets.
s READ MOREIn their latest book, Magali Elali and partner Bart Kiggen ventured behind the closed doors of creatives who share their much-adored abodes with their much-adored pets.
s READ MOREIn their latest book, Magali Elali and partner Bart Kiggen—the couple behind studio Coffeeklatch and Greenterior—ventured behind the closed doors of creatives who share their much-adored abodes with their much-adored pets. Wild at Heart is a medley of touching interviews and tickling anecdotes alongside photography that flaunts sometimes eclectic, often cosy homes. We spoke to Elali about what she learned along the way. This is what she had to say.
—
A home without a pet is like a home without a soul. Animals breathe joy and life into a space. If you look closely, the homes featured in this book aren’t pristine nor messy; they are well lived-in and reflect a particular lifestyle. A lifestyle where animals and people live in harmony, and pets can roam freely around the house, where running and playing is allowed without breaking or bumping into precious furniture. Living with pets is like living with children—you have to teach them the house rules and let it go when things go wrong. Living with pets is a process. It’s a game of trial and error. It’s messy and never perfect.
When you come home after a stressful day, nothing beats that feeling of being welcomed by a pet. I think their enthusiasm and energy soothes you and lifts you up, and that feeling definitely boosts your level of creativity. A pet certainly makes you think outside the box—it gives you a different perspective. The best ideas come to mind when stroking a pet. And pets are an interesting topic in interviews with creatives because it catches people off-guard. No matter who you talk to, the conversation’s serious tone immediately changes. When you talk about animals, people smile, and they start sharing small, funny anecdotes.
Bart [Kiggen] and I both grew up with pets in the house. We had dogs, cats, chickens, parrots, and rabbits in the countryside and the city. When we moved in together, we decided to take in one cat, but one cat became five and now we’re planning on taking a dog, a Kooikerhondje, just like An and Jeroen from the book. We also want chickens on the roof. As a family, I can’t imagine living without pets.
—
All images courtesy of Bart Kiggen and Magali Elali
You can buy a copy of Wild at Heart here
We are thrilled to introduce Dog-Friendly, a collection of city guides for dog-loving people, created together with our long-time contributor, photographer Winnie Au, and fellow enthusiasts, indie publisher Hoxton Mini Press. Available for purchase here.
August 25, 2021
Have you ever imagined Amy Winehouse or Nick Cave as a Chihuahua, Neil Young as a Vizsla, or PJ Harvey as an Afghan hound? That’s exactly what San Francisco-based artist Michael Gillette has done through his unique illustration project, blending beloved, iconic music legends, both past and present, with their dog counterparts. Pack of Dogs, our first foray into book publishing, is a celebration of pup and pop culture for music and dog lovers alike.
August 25, 2020
In his series ‘Kinetic’, San Diego-based photographer James Lee celebrates dogs at full speed.
May 7, 2023
Jouk Oosterhof photographs Amsterdam’s beloved family members (with a dash of lifestyle accessory).
May 3, 2023
What started as a fundraising effort to save photographer Kristoffer Paulsen’s beloved dog Josie, morphed into Melbourne’s most in-demand pet portraits.
March 31, 2023
For decades, legendary Irish documentary photographer Tony O’Shea has captured the country’s annual drag hunt, and a country’s rich history along with it.
March 24, 2023
Thanks to hungry wolves and ancient humans, there are over 350 dog breeds in the world today. Artist Hosung Jang offers more.
February 27, 2023
Suspended between vintage past and surrealist future, The Brigadoon Dispatch is a portal to new realms of creativity.
February 24, 2023
Pioneering ‘species-fluid’ fashion, THEANIMALS™ brings human and hound even closer together.
January 28, 2023
In his third and final instalment of The Waiting Game, artist Txema Salvans photographs dogs tied to lives of waiting.
January 26, 2023
Clean-lined, minimal and irresistibly cute, Odile Ferraille depicts dogs living their best, carefree lives.
January 23, 2023
Bath time can be a dignified affair with MiaCara’s new Groom collection, designed to bring luxe to wet dogs.
November 28, 2022