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French designer Audrey Large took cues from digital forms to design a collection of 3D-printed sculptures that explore the relationship between both our virtual and physical worlds.
Large's sculptures were on show at Nilufar Gallery during Milan design week
Large created the sculptures by drawing shapes by hand on a digital tablet, after which she 3D-printed the physical polylactic acid (PLA) sculptures that intend to represent 2D digital forms seen on-screen.
"I was thinking about how I could design objects as we design images," Large told Dezeen.
The iridescent sculptures resemble molten lava
Presented in iridescent shades of bright green, yellow and purple, the sculptures are ambiguously shaped, with a liquid-looking texture that resembles molten lava.
"There is no coating or paint on the sculptures, so the colour is within the material," said the designer.
Some Vibrant Things takes cues from digital shapes
Despite being digitally rendered, Large explained that her sculptures also represent handcraft, and aim to illustrate the shifting boundary between the real and the digital.
"I would say that they are pretty much handcrafted," said Large.
"Of course the sculptures are mainly made on the computer, but their shapes are very much linked to the dynamic movements of my hands."
Large noted that because her physical sculptures are created from "infinitely transformable" digital files, they suggest the possibility of morphing into something else too.
Some Vibrant Things took place from 5 to 11 September at Nilufar Gallery as part of Milan design week 2021. See Dezeen Events Guide for an up-to-date list of architecture and design events taking place around the world.
Dezeen promotion: a community garden that transforms produce waste from a street market into fertiliser is among a series of installations created by eight artists and architects for a mixed-use urban area in the Eastern District of Hong Kong.
The installations, which are currently on view, were unveiled on 30 August as part of Via North Point – a festival in the North Point Community – one of Hong Kong island’s oldest neighbourhoods.
"North Point is one of the oldest neighbourhoods on Hong Kong island full of stories of many generations," said the Hong Kong Arts Centre. "It has remained very local, old, and traditional for many years until recently as the district is rapidly facing gentrification when new, modern private property is being built."
The festival, spearheaded by Hong Kong Arts Centre and sponsored by the city's Urban Renewal Fund since 2019, encourages visitors and locals to engage with this lively area of the city.
AaaM Architects' Hangout Islands provides a relaxed beach-style environment for people of all ages to socialise
This year's showcased installations are the result of a competition that was launched in January 2021 calling upon urban space designers, experts and enthusiasts to reimagine the neighbourhood, which has undergone major redevelopment in the past 20 years.
Of the nearly 80 entries received, six were chosen to be brought from concept to reality. These six selected land-sited works are complemented by two commissioned floating installations.
A Cycle of Life is a food waste collection point in Chun Yeung
Scattered from Chun Yeung Street to the sea east of North Point Public Pier, each installation is based upon independent research into North Point neighbourhood, observations of users' behaviour and lengthy discussions with local residents.
Addressing different aspects of the neighbourhood's needs and aspirations, many of the concepts advocate for sustainability through biodiversity and up-cycling while others encourage social interaction within the community.
The Symphony of North Point by ARTA Architects' is an interactive sound exchanging device
Local architecture firm MLKK Studio responded to the beautiful chaos of the market street by creating A Cycle of Life, a food waste collection point and community garden in Chun Yeung that transforms produce waste into fertiliser and energy to benefit the community.
Also included is the Symphony of North Point by ARTA Architects' interactive sound exchanging device that amplifies the sounds of North Point while encouraging youth to make music.
O&O Studio x REhyphenation's North Pointer project features a series of old chairs
AaaM Architects' Hangout Islands presented a series of plant-filled summer pavilions that are dotted along the North Point pier providing a relaxed beach-style environment for people of all ages to socialise.
Also included is O&O Studio x REhyphenation's North Pointer project, which features a series of old chairs that were collected from North Point schools, households and street stalls.
Now installed along the public pier, the chairs are accompanied by audio recordings of their former owners' memories of the area. Passersby can listen to them by scanning a QR code.
Sugar Factory encourages street fitness along the waterfront
Jason Lee Lok-sun presented Sugar Factory, which encourages street fitness along the waterfront with a nod towards sugar refineries of the past.
Also showcased is #TackPoint by #TackTeam, which is a public art installation made from used plastic bottles collected in the area.
In addition to the land installations, two floating installations reflect upon bygone days of swimming in the Victoria harbour while proposing ways towards a greener future.
Re-imagining Collective Swimming in North Point is a floating bamboo structure by multidisciplinary design studio Yucolab that recalls the once-popular swimming decks and huts that used to populate the neighbourhood.
#TackPoint by #TackTeam is one of the "floating installations"
Ocean Imagineer by French-Japanese designer Cesar Jung-Harada examines how oyster farming can increase aquatic biodiversity and enhance water quality while producing energy to sustain the practice.
The installations are accompanied by further series of artworks, related tours, workshops and activities that run throughout the month of September.
Ocean Imagineer explores how oyster farming can increase aquatic biodiversity
"Via North Point Festival is the culmination of our vision to engage the community through public art and spatial place-making," said Hong Kong Arts Centre in a statement.
"It seeks to increase North Point residents' 15-minute circle of living with art that inspires them to venture further. It encourages the area's walkability and invites new contemplation of old spaces viewed through a more artistic lens. Through its top-down meets bottom-up approach, it facilitates cultural citizenship as people take ownership and pride in their district."
Re-imagining Collective Swimming is a floating bamboo structure by design studio Yucolab
Via North Point Festival runs until 30 September 2021.
For more information about Via, North Point Festival visit its website.
Partnership content
This article was written by Dezeen for Hong Kong Arts Centre as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.
Dezeen Showroom: mismatched legs in wood and marble characterise the Sengu table, created by Patricia Urquiola for furniture brand Cassina in a nod to the mix of materials traditionally found in Japanese shrines.
The Sengu table is propped up by a marble column as well as an oblong and a cylindrical wooden leg connected by horizontal crosspieces.
The table incorporates the wood and marble traditionally found in Japanese shrines
The design is available with a round or oval top, which can be finished in five different marbles as well as American walnut and natural or black-stained oak.
The dining table can also be equipped with a ceramic Lazy Susan for serving food.
The design is characterised by its mismatched legs
"This revolving top is another important reference to the traditions of the orient," said Cassina.
"The Sengu table is an almost monumental piece of furniture that celebrates conviviality through poetic dialogue, placing an accent on the union of different materials that together express great visual tactility."
About Dezeen Showroom:Dezeen Showroom offers an affordable space for brands to launch new products and showcase their designers and projects to Dezeen's huge global audience. For more details email showroom@dezeen.com.
Dezeen Showroom is an example of partnership content on Dezeen. Find out more about partnership content here.
Dezeen Showroom: integrity and wellbeing are among the themes guiding home finish choices, according to UK paint company Crown Paints, which has released its AW21 Trends collection.
The Crown AW21 Trends collection groups the company's paints into colour palettes around three themes – Integrity, Crystal and Innovation.
The Integrity trend includes shades such as Family Tree and Cushion Craze
Integrity reflects people's attitudes post-lockdown, turning towards a slower pace of life and away from the values of a throwaway society. It features muted, nature-inspired hues ranging from dusky Cushion Craze pink to verdant Family Tree green.
Crystal considers the impact of colour on health and wellbeing, and how colour psychology theory can be applied to interiors to lift people's moods. It uses pure, crystal-like tones such as Blue Gaze and Teal.
The Crystal trend promotes health and wellbeing through pure tones such as Soft Ash, Teal and Platinum
The third theme, Layers, takes inspiration from modern architecture and design, with tone-on-tone applications such as Soft Lime, Emerald Vision and Splash of Pepper.
Crown Paints prides itself on innovation and sustainability and has set itself targets to become carbon neutral and fully circular in its production.
Its low-VOC Breatheasy formula is 99.9 per cent solvent-free, so it won't emit harmful fumes while drying.
About Dezeen Showroom:Dezeen Showroom offers an affordable space for brands to launch new products and showcase their designers and projects to Dezeen's huge global audience. For more details email showroom@dezeen.com.
Dezeen Showroom is an example of partnership content on Dezeen. Find out more about partnership content here.
