Encoded Symbols
First presented at Carwan Gallery in Athens, Encoded Symbols is a group of unique light sculptures formed by hand using welded steel wire and real exotic leaves from the Thaumatococcus Daniellii plant – a rhizomatic herb widely cultivated in central Africa for its exceptionally sweet fruit and useful leaves.
When researching the plant, we followed its path from the place of growth in Africa through the wide distribution network and its point of sale in the UK. After a special preparation process, the large leaves were clung tightly to the metal skeleton, forming a botanical skin that is as much functional as it is ornamental. The sculptures were then coated in zinc using a custom-developed thermo-coating process – an industrial method used e.g. in the naval industry to protect vessels from corrosion. Thus, the botanic matter was permanently encased within a thin metal shell – preserved, protected. The organic forms that emerged referenced historical typologies, offering a reflection on traditional floral ornamentation on the one hand, and the fragility and perishability of the implemented plant-based material on the other.
Apart from the metallised works, a "raw" version of the light sculpture was presented: with the organic lampshade protected only with a thin layer of transparent resin that fills the pores and limits oxidation, the veiny, skin-like coat slowly transformed in an inevitable spectacle of ageing, shifting its palette from vivid greens to luminous bronzes and ochres. The focus was placed not only on the transient characteristic of nature but also on the conceptual relationship between plants and light – a vital life source. By highlighting the raw material, we created an abstract landscape or a new type of still life – a living organism that evolves in front of the viewer.
Encoded Symbols: Protoplasting Nature is a result of Marcin's design research residency at IN Residence in Turin, Italy. The project was accompanied by a monographic publication curated by Barbara Brondi and Marco Raino, published by NERO Editions in 2020.
When researching the plant, we followed its path from the place of growth in Africa through the wide distribution network and its point of sale in the UK. After a special preparation process, the large leaves were clung tightly to the metal skeleton, forming a botanical skin that is as much functional as it is ornamental. The sculptures were then coated in zinc using a custom-developed thermo-coating process – an industrial method used e.g. in the naval industry to protect vessels from corrosion. Thus, the botanic matter was permanently encased within a thin metal shell – preserved, protected. The organic forms that emerged referenced historical typologies, offering a reflection on traditional floral ornamentation on the one hand, and the fragility and perishability of the implemented plant-based material on the other.
Apart from the metallised works, a "raw" version of the light sculpture was presented: with the organic lampshade protected only with a thin layer of transparent resin that fills the pores and limits oxidation, the veiny, skin-like coat slowly transformed in an inevitable spectacle of ageing, shifting its palette from vivid greens to luminous bronzes and ochres. The focus was placed not only on the transient characteristic of nature but also on the conceptual relationship between plants and light – a vital life source. By highlighting the raw material, we created an abstract landscape or a new type of still life – a living organism that evolves in front of the viewer.
Encoded Symbols: Protoplasting Nature is a result of Marcin's design research residency at IN Residence in Turin, Italy. The project was accompanied by a monographic publication curated by Barbara Brondi and Marco Raino, published by NERO Editions in 2020.
| YEAR: 2020 |
COLLABORATORS: Marcin Rusak Tamara Pilawska Baranowska Przemyslaw Lepszy |
PHOTO CREDITS: Giorgos Sfakianakis Courtesy Carwan Gallery |
LOCATION: Athens, Greece |
