Inspired by organic elements and form whether they be human, botanical, aquatic or insect, Melbourne-based ceramicist and lighting designer Marc Pascal’s luminous pieces are borne of an evolving design palette underpinned by myriad techniques, processes and materials.
A former Victorian College of the Arts fine arts and Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology industrial design graduate Pascal last year scooped a number of awards including a win for his striking preternatural polycarbonate ‘Orchid Light’.
In choosing the orchid as his muse, and paying homage to its evocative sensuality, the designer reached a pinnacle in the sophistication of technique he had developed through previous lighting creations – ‘Eyoi Yoi’, ‘Xploff’ and ‘Acacia’.
“The Orchid took a year to develop and opened up new ways of doing things but most exciting is the never-ending, always changing colour and pattern effects dyed onto the multi-coloured orchid flowers that surround each light,” he says.
“(These) are made up of approximately 80% opal and translucent polycarbonate shapes that are forme cut, curled and sprung onto stainless steel wires and arranged in a manner inspired by Ikebana – dynamic composition sitting quietly.”
Fluidity of form is prevalent in all of Pascal’s works – his Acacia light draws on the “hallucinatory” qualities of the Medicine Plant with the designer attributing the twisting, tumbling characteristics to its seed pod shapes.
Another design, the Eyoi Yoi light, is fashioned on falling autumnal leaves and hovering butterflies, while his 1996 Worvo creation exudes feminine form and horizontal weaves.
In Pascal’s eyes options and freedom of choice are paramount – an idea painstakingly followed in his ceramic collection.
Vases of porcelainous stoneware are given multiple cavities for colour and scent manipulations imbued with elegance and surrealism while showcasing egg-shell surfaces, tubular vessels and the symmetrical curves of deep sea corals.
The designer is currently in the process of creating two new products to be unveiled in 2011.
M2 Products
73 Newman Street, Thornbury, Melbourne
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marcpascal.com