FURNITURE IN POETRY
A master of both unique pieces and major projects, Brussels-based Sébastien Caporusso surprises with the poetic nature of his work. The 2021 Designer of the Year brilliantly combines organic contrasts, bold cuts, noble materials and local craftsmanship.
Talent does not only emerge with experience. It can be there from the outset. That is the strong impression left on me by Sébastien Caporusso, the young designer. Beyond his strong esthetic vision, it is his firm beliefs that impress: a responsible approach to design which calls upon noble but often reused materials, and local manufacture. He explained his artistic approach and shared his vision with us in simple terms.
Simplicity, noble materials, sustainable sourcing... How do you define your design approach?
Sébastien Caporusso: I am into the connection and interdependence between the different parts of a single ensemble; while taking into account space in itself, along with the emotions and soul that inhabit it. I want my clients to live with the material, to linger over the warmth of a wood, to appreciate the variations in the colors of marble, and to be attentive to details, especially in the choice of materials which is too often forgotten. I work with Belgian craftspeople and follow their whole process from selecting the materials, to production and the placing of objects in my clients' home. I have control over all of my pieces.
We see a strong tendency towards organic design. Do you claim to be part of this movement?
S. C.: It is a term that is used a lot, but the founders of this movement were Charlotte Perriand and Alvar Aalto. They were the pioneers of these often irregular curves and lines. It inspires me, too, but it is not a goal in my work. I am more inspired by the lines and esthetics found in animal, vegetal, and even human forms.
Where do you draw your inspiration from as a designer?
S. C.: In this digitalized, high-speed, often dehumanized century, I draw lots of inspiration from Japanese culture, joyfully combining beauty with the useful – and sometimes with the not so useful, which is undoubtedly the greatest of luxuries. But I must not forget another of my inspirations, very far removed from Japan: Brazil, a country bubbling over with energy which gave us the incredible architects and designers of the 1950s. They gave me a taste for the breathtaking, and inspire my furniture-sculptures.
People highlight the "poetry" in your work. In what way are you a poet of objects?
S. C.: Each project is a new opportunity to explore the variations of a strong identity with a touch of poetry and elegance.
I love finesse and lightness as a contradiction to the weight of the materials I use.
Generally, the job of designers is to think up all kinds of objects which must meet both esthetic and functional criteria.
If I can bring something dreamlike to this, I am delighted.
You were named 2021 Designer of the Year. Which projects have especially marked you during your career?
S. C.: Each project has its own importance, regardless of its size. It is a pleasure to start with a blank page for every project.
Photo credits: Sébastien Caporusso, Depasquale & Maffini
