On the CUSP Series: Blooming beyond nature with Inland Collective
Collectable design - and design as a whole, for that matter - requires finessing the finer details, so having an inclination towards that is what first attracted us.
Co-founder of Inland Collective, Brett Rubin explains, ‘We both have backgrounds and careers in art (lo is a multidisciplinary artist and Brett a photographer and visual artist] and have worked with glass as a medium previously in our practices.’
Inland Collective is a brand we launched in 2020. Our first range was called Cosmos and took its inspiration from outer space. We worked with specific colours and forms in our mirrors and blown-glass bowls that echoed the alchemical makeup of our universe.
When we were invited to participate in the CUSP exhibition, we decided to use the opportunity to preview some items from our new range and develop a coffee table that we had been designing for some time.
The coffee table - called "Rock Bloom" - takes its inspiration from lichen while the mirror we created - "Igneous" - represents magma and stone. Both the coffee table and mirror are different from how we usually work in that the glass top and patina on the mirror, uniquely made by lo, draw on our disciplines as artists to create. As such, no two "Rock Bloom" tables or "Igneous" mirrors will be the same.
Usually, we design products that can be made in large quantities, however,with these, we opted to make something truly unique in their ability to balance form and function.
Glass and mirror are our primary material focus, so for the "Rock Bloom" coffee table we were excited by the idea of combining the mottled glass top with solid geometric sandstone bases. The relationship between these materials is fascinating, as glass was once sand, so there is a unified language and relationship in the design.
The simple design of the three geometric forms suspended in space, with no joins, further speaks to the material singularity and symbiosis of these natural elements. With the "Igneous" mirror we approached the patina differently, with the bronze patina sitting on the front of the glass and silver mirror behind it, giving a three-dimensional effect. The mirror was then cut into a shape that echoes the flowing form of magma.
Seeing an idea go from a sketch to physical piece that enhances people's lives is really exciting for us and motivates us to create. The world's obsession with homogenised, cheaply made products with planned obsolescence is the antithesis of our mission; we feel that design should be well made, sustainably and offer pleasure - and functionality - for many generations.
This article originally appeared in the September 2022 issue of House and Garden