PN1804

The Protoplasting Nature collection grew out of a reflection on traditional floral ornamentation. Using botanic matter as the main structure rather than the applied decoration of the piece, we have come up with a collection of unique pieces that study the relationship between nature, humans, and artisanship. A load-bearing structure, formed by hand using welded steel, evokes organic shapes and ornate 17th-century furnishings. Specially prepared, large exotic leaves cling tightly to the metal skeleton, forming a botanical skin that is as much functional as it is ornamental. Protected with a thin layer of transparent resin that fills the pores and limits oxidation, the botanical matter transforms in an inevitable, however extended, spectacle of ageing, shifting its coat from vivid greens to luminous bronzes and ochres. The focus is placed as much on the transient characteristic of nature as it is on the permanent sculpture that builds on a hundreds-year-old typology. By replacing ornamental function and highlighting the raw material, leaves loose their recognisable appearance. They become an abstract landscape creating a new still life – a living organism that evolves in front of the viewer.