Fine art and design

As strange as it might sound, I do get very inspired and influenced by everyday wonders of design and art. A Bauhaus tea infuser has been one of those inspirational items that steered my fine art practice. And even if you don’t explicitly know what the Bauhaus is, more likely than not, you have seen designs and products inspired by its principles.

The Bauhaus was an Art School which was established and operated in Germany from the 1920’s to 1940’s. There is a lot to be said about the school’s contribution, however I want to focus on one main aspect that affected my work over the past few years.

I carefully choose the colour palettes and compositions to be used on my paintings well before the process of painting commences. I research, experiment, design and tune my designs to be aesthetically pleasing, meaningful and easy to integrate in someone’s living or working space. My fine art collection Art Deco would be a suitable example to demonstrate such qualities.

In addition to the basic principles of Bauhaus, individual designs and designers have been influential to my fine art.

Barcelona Chair by Mies Van de Rohe

Mies Van de Rohe was responsible for several iconic designs; among them was Barcelona Chair. I find the elegance of the structural frame of the chair fascinating. The legs of the chair stimulate my designer’s mind, reminding me of how beautiful the intuitive pencil marking can be on a piece of paper during the multiple stages of the design process.

Tea infuser by Marianne Brandt

I love the boldness of the handle that Marianne Brandt incorporated to her iconic Tea Infuser. The colour and solidity of the black handle, contrasts so robustly with the reflective surface of the stainless steel body. This item could be displayed as a work of art, however it is in reality a functional, everyday object, integral with several processes in the kitchen.

Wassily Chair by Marcel Breure

Another chair features on my list of favourite Bauhaus objects. Wassily Chair by Marcel Breure is a great example of how something of inherently awkward shape (a chair), can become an object of elegance and creativity. The designer manages to create a functional piece of furniture, considering the ingenuity needed to make it comfortable, without compromising on the aesthetics.

Nesting tables by Josef Albers

A design that has been copied in so many different ways, by so many companies and designers. The Nesting Tables is a testament to functionality and style. Simple, ergonomic and beautiful, Josef Albers managed to strip down the design to its essential elements for functionality while furnishing it with colour that makes it aesthetically pleasing and memorable.