Protoplasting Nature Material

Balancing between fragility and rigidity, metal and exotic leaves are combined to make opposing processes — life and death, renewal and decay — evident. A load-bearing structure, formed by hand using welded steel, evokes organic shapes and ornate antique furnishings.  Leaves from Thaumatococcus Daniellii, an exotic plant widely cultivated in central Africa and Asia for its exceptionally sweet fruit and useful leaves, are applied onto the metal structures. The entire sculpture is then coated in zinc or bronze using a thermo-coating process, which permanently encases the leaves within a thin metal shell.

Samples of the material are available on request only. Please contact info@marcinrusak.com to learn more.

The Protoplasting Nature is a series of conceptual works that function as statement pieces commenting on the conventionality, functionality, and materiality of everyday objects. All pieces are one-off prototypes. New items are available on a commission basis.

Due to the experimental character of the series, lead times are negotiated on a case-by-case basis.

The pieces from the Protoplasting Nature collection are extremely fragile and should be handled with utter care. Please hold your item by the steel frame only while handling. Please dust the piece gently with compressed air or an ultra-soft microfibre cloth.