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| Designers Patrik Fredrikson and Ian Stallard with their monumental new installation created from Swarovski crystals and raw steel: "It is like a giant lens which refracts light with an incredible intensity." |
Design Miami/Basel opened this week in Switzerland, bringing together designers, curators, critics and collectors from around the world. This year, avant-guarde British designers Fredrikson Stallard have created a colossal installation glimmering with luminous, golden crystals, Jeanne-Marie Cilento writes. Photographs by James Harris
PATRIK Fredrikson and Ian Stallard's
monumental new sculpture called Prologue is made of glinting
crystals forming a circular design like a shining sun that represents life and
rebirth. Eight thousand crystal droplets gently sway within a thick,
steel frame suspended from an industrial beam. The designers were commissioned by Swarovski
to create the work, building on their collaboration with the contemporary design-focused Austrian company that has produced crystals for five
generations.
"Our work with Swarovski is based on a shared understanding
of concept, material and form. Prologue explores this with the pure
simplicity of its circular structure, creating a giant lens which refracts
light with an incredible intensity," says Patrik Fredrikson.
The installation contrasts heavy, raw steel with light,
sparkling precision cut crystals in different shades. Passionate about art and
design, Nadja Swarovski believes Fredrikson Stallard are among the most
talented designers working today. "Prologue is a glowing symbol of life, and
its power lies in its scale. Its compelling presence draws the viewer closer,
allowing us to feel a primeval connection with the sun."
Nadja Swarovski has commissioned both emerging and
established artists and designers from all over the world to create
experimental new works using crystal as an artistic medium. In the past 10
years, she has collaborated with designers and architects including Ron Arad,
Tom Dixon, Arik Levy, Yves Behar, Ross Lovegrove and Tord Boontje. Recent
projects include Perspectives by British minimalist John Pawson at the
Venice Biennale and Prima by Zaha Hadid at the Vitra Design Museum in Germany
last year.
Fredrikson and Stallard began their collaboration in 1995
and have since become well known for their cutting edge work. Their pieces have been acquired by the
Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the French National Art Collection, and
shown at the Design Museum and the Museum of Art and Design in New York.
The designers have collaborated with Swarovski on various
projects and this is the second time they have created a large-scale
installation with the company for Design Miami/Basel. The designers also worked
with Swarovski creating pieces exhibited at Milan’s Salone del Mobile, the
Atelier Swarovski Autumn/Winter 2013 jewelry collection as well as the 2013
British Film Awards trophy.
Design Miami/Basel runs from the 17–22 June 2014, Hall 1 Süd, Messe Basel, Switzerland. For more information visit: www.designmiami.com
Click on photographs for full-screen slideshow
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| The two designers with Nadja Swarovski survey the completed installation of golden crystals and raw steel. "Our work with Swarovski is based on a shared understanding of concept, material and form. Prologue explores this with the pure simplicity of its circular structure," says Patrik Fredrikson. |
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| Patrik Fredrikson works on the installation attaching the crystals by hand. The installation contrasts heavy steel with light, sparkling precision cut crystals in different shades. |
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| Designer Ian Stallard begins the long task of attaching 8,000 crystals to the steel structure. |
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| The designers were commissioned by Swarovski to create the work, building on their collaboration with the design-focused Austrian company that has produced crystals for five generations. |
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| Fredrikson and Stallard began their collaboration in 1995 and have since become well known for their cutting edge work. Pieces have been acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the French National Art Collection and shown at the Museum of Art and Design in New York. |
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| "Prologue is a glowing symbol of life, and its power lies in its scale. Its compelling presence draws the viewer closer, allowing us to feel a primeval connection with the sun," says Nadja Swarovski |
 |
| Nadja Swarovski has commissioned both emerging and established artists and designers from all over the world to create experimental new works using crystal as the artistic medium. |
 |
| The designers have collaborated with Swarovski on various projects and this is the second time they have created a large-scale installation with the company for Design Miami/Basel. |
 |
| The designers also worked with Swarovski creating pieces exhibited at Milan’s Salone del Mobile, the Atelier Swarovski Autumn/Winter 2013 jewelry collection as well as the 2013 British Film Awards trophy. |
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| Eight thousand crystal droplets gently sway within in a thick, steel frame suspended from an industrial beam. |
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| Prologue can be seen at Design Miami/Basel which runs from the17–22 June 2014, Hall 1 Süd, Messe Basel, Switzerland. |
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| A computer rendering of the design of Prologue showing it's scale and the enormous steel disc suspended from above. |
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| Passionate about art and design, Nadja Swarovski believes Fredrikson Stallard are among the most talented designers working today. |
