PAD London, 2024 : SPECTRAL LANDSCAPES

Each artist and studio in this exhibition presents a unique interpretation of the intersection between the organic and the futuristic, using their distinct design languages to explore this dynamic fusion.  Kyeok Kim’s work delves into the realm of biomimicry, crafting forms with copper wire that echo nature’s elegance while embracing traditional materials and techniques to imagine a new concept of materiality. Kim's ‘Second Skin Series’ explores the boundaries between body and environment, creating tactile, organic forms which challenge perceptions of identity, reflecting the fluidity of self and the transformation of the body. 

The alien like forms created by the 2024, LOEWE Foundation Craft Prize finalist, Heechan Kim, displays a completely unique perspective to the art of creating with wood veneer.  ‘Untitled 18’ is a monumental hanging sculpture which has its own unique design language imagined by Kim himself, the likes of which have never been seen. In a similar vein, Yanxiong Lin’s furniture and object designs, from his inaugural collection ‘A Window to the Past’ are somehow familiar in form, acknowledging the present, a nod to the past, but looking to the future and creating works of another dimension, time, and civilisation. Working exclusively with wood, Washi paper and Urushi lacquer, Lin calls into question social and cultural dynamics through the forms, materials, and processes he has selected.

Created from lime plaster and basalt, DEGLAN’s monumental 'Boulder low Table 1+1 XXL’ is a testament to the harmonious blend of natural inspiration and cutting-edge technology, resulting in a work that is both familiar and otherworldly. Their use of lime plaster mixed with basalt refers to the familiar but brings our understanding of modern-day materials in to question. 

Steven John Clark, founder and creative director behind Australian-based denHolm has become known for a distinctive aesthetic that merges traditional craftsmanship with experimental forms inspired by high fashion and design-forward thinking. Working with solid limestone DenHolm’s ‘Sister Dead Mental Table’ brings a tactile sensibility to the exhibition, with the work embodying the raw beauty of organic materials transformed through innovative processes.  Reynold Rodriguez handmade plaster console table ‘Las Once Y Once’ features anthropomorphic, alien-like forms, also evoking an atmosphere reminiscent of Salvador Dalí's dreamscapes. The slim necks and lamps that morph from the table top captures the essence of surrealism, merging fantasy and reality, creating a functional art piece that feels both otherworldly and iconic. 

Jean Gabriel Neukomm’s, ‘Nephelepsis Chandelier’ pushes the boundaries of design and making by merging sleek, futuristic lines with organic fluidity. This visionary creation cleverly brings together fragments of mica sheet and light to create a chandelier like no other.  Ian Milnes works offer a glimpse into the future of design and making, his never before seen ‘Broken Tulips’ characterised by experimental, innovative approach to manipulating wood veneer offer exaggerated fluid forms that appear to defy gravity.  Dawn Bendick’s mesmeric dichroic glass sculptures create an illusion of bioluminescence evoking the ethereal qualities of light and colour, bridging the gap between the natural and the synthetic. Made from cast bronze and hand poured glass, Raven & Lack’s, ‘Bracciale Sconce’ nods to the past using ancient and noble materials. The sconces has a distinct tribal appearance yet is almost magically lit giving it a futuristic spin. 

New York based, South Korean designer Mia Jung, stays true to her design aesthetic and has created ‘Cloud Mirror’. Simple in form, the mirror is cast from a single piece of glass, sandblasted and acid etched and finished with 24 carat gold on the surface. The result is that of a reflective surface that offers the user a mirror that offers no useable reflection but encourages contemplation.  Studio Furthermore premiere, ‘Diode Dining Table’ a work that encapsulates the essence of the exhibition. Working with recycled aluminium car wheels that are melted to form their creations, the duo embrace the old in order to create the new. The unusual finishing of their works culminates in a sophisticated amalgamation of organic inspiration and futuristic vision, which in turn challenges the viewer to question materiality and the sustainability of contemporary collectable design.

"Spectral Landscapes" invites visitors to embark on a sensory journey, exploring the captivating fusion of organic and futuristic design. The exhibition challenges conventional design paradigms, showcasing the limitless possibilities that arise when nature, technology and artistry converge. Through this immersive experience, "Spectral Landscapes" celebrates the innovative spirit of contemporary design, offering a glimpse into a future where organic beauty and futuristic innovation coexist in perfect harmony.