Incollect Magazine - Issue 2 Preview

Issue 2 14 www.incollect.com Do you envision your objects in interiors when you design and make them with a place or space in mind, or do you think of them as stand-alone works of art? Marcin Rusak: Working with concepts, narratives, and experimental materials requires concentration on many levels. I think we’ve passed the point where the word ‘designer’ means only one thing — sometimes I am working as a sculptor, while on other occasions, I am managing the design process. Design is an incredibly broad field, and the most exciting thing about it is that we can delve into so many other interconnected worlds, including the world of fine arts. I am not a fan of separating design from art. Just like in the Art Nouveau period, I believe every branch of the creative industry should be treated with equal respect. Do you keep track of where your objects go and who buys them — does that interest you? Marcin Rusak: Many of my works, initially emerging from self-initiated quests into new forms, techniques and materials, later develop into a more regular range of customized objects available on a commission basis. I often develop new pieces with a specific interior, collector or gallery in my mind, and it is always interesting to know where my objects end up and how they are exposed in the final location. I also value a close relationship with individual gallerists and collectors. By by Benjamin Genocchio Marcin Rusak is one of the most exciting contemporary makers of furniture at work today. His process is extraordinary, not to mention his material explorations which have come to define and distinguish his work, which is showing right now at Twenty First Gallery in New York City. Marcin Rusak Flora participating in the design process, they learn about the objects’ prerogatives and the fact that pieces are prone to transformation. We treat our collectors as custodians of the pieces and let them develop a unique relationship with the object. While some prefer to observe the process of change and get excited by the transformation, others tend to cherish preservation and keep pieces in museum-like conditions. Are there any designers who have consistently bought or displayed your work that seem best to understand what you are doing? Marcin Rusak: As mentioned, I feel blessed with the relationships I have built with my gallerists and returning clients — both individual collectors and large interior design firms such as Joshua Rice Design, whom we had the pleasure to work with in collaboration with Twenty First Gallery. We are always eager to develop bespoke solutions for specific projects, and this is how we came up with the Flora Curved Credenza and Flora Table 120 made in cast aluminum, which were designed together with Joshua. How do your ideas change through the process of creation? Marcin Rusak: I believe that open-mindedness is a crucial element here. At the studio, I take the final artistic decisions, but the development process can bring about a lot of twists and turns that Contemporaria