Manifesto

Working in the spectrum between decay and preservation, our practice was established with the premise to create pieces that represent the changing notions of value and symbolize the passing of time. Durable and timeless, or, on the contrary, dissolving under the pressure of external circumstances, the objects and materials developed by the studio scrutinise the seeming stability of the world around us, questioning excess consumption and the overproduction of goods.

Elevating overlooked source materials such as waste flowers or discarded metal, we create pieces that not only question the widespread notion of design as an activity that helps produce disposable, short-lived commodities and discuss the notions of waste and excess but also encourage the owner to become a custodian of the piece, developing an engaged, emotional attachment with it.

Thinking about the perceived value of man-made objects, we acknowledge different stages of engagement we have with them. The “aura” of a piece implies various stages of encounter, from approaching the unknown, to observation, sensual experience and emotional attachment.

Phenomena at the crossroads between nature and culture, botany and economy, the digital and the material, prompt us to conduct new bodies of research and come up with alternative approaches to materiality and production. From ideation to implementation, we have full personal control over the creative process, adopting custom-developed methodologies for each new project.

Sourcing from various disciplines, we are driven to constantly reinvent our processes. From researching the global cut flower market to shed light on the contradictory premises and expectations regarding the flower-as-commodity, to developing alternative preservation methods using recycled resins or industrial metal spraying techniques, to building custom glasshouses or inventing sets of bacteria and enzymes able to decompose the bio-based matter – it is the conscious selection of designated procedures that leads us to the final outcome.

Our pieces are usually one-off, conceptual prototypes and unique collectable items that aspire to redefine historical references and provide a new perception of the world through an expression of their own.

Over the course of years, we have researched and developed a number of unique materials and in-house techniques that formed the basis of our signature collections. Inspired by endless examples of botanic ornamentation found throughout history, we have treated flowers not as mere decoration, but as the very fabric and inspiration for the functioning of our materials.

From observing the slow decay to preserving them in resin or metal, we make use of flowers that are „unsellable” due to their condition, withering and fading, and thus reveal their subtle beauty and transformative potential. Upcycling them into new pieces not only brings a new aesthetic and emotional merit, but also helps us educate our audience about the values we believe in.

Highlighting the natural qualities of the materials, we emphasise the fact that our pieces are living objects that transform over time. We find value in the imperfections of the fading plants, and encourage others to recognise beauty in transition and flux.

Observing the life cycles of our materials enabled us to implement a philosophy based on an analysis of ephemerality, spanning from preservation to decay.