Charles Burnand Gallery hosts Objects of Permanence and material intelligence

At a time when speed, ephemerality and trends often define design and cultural consumption, Objects of Permanence at the Charles Burnand Gallery offers a compelling counterpoint. On view from June 2 – August 29, 2025, in Fitzrovia, London, this thoughtfully curated design exhibition brings together a cohort of contemporary artists and designers whose works resist the transient and embrace the enduring. United by a shared commitment to material intelligence, craftsmanship and conceptual clarity, these designers interrogate the notion of permanence through sculptural installations, functional and often monumental forms. "These are objects defined not by trend, but by material intelligence, conceptual depth, and the quiet authority of craftsmanship," reads the exhibition's text.

Featuring a diverse group of practitioners including DEGLAN, DenHolm, Kyeok Kim, Yanxiong Lin, Jean-Gabriel Neukomm, Reynold Rodriguez, Mia Jung, Simon Stewart, Yearin Pyun, Kyouhong Lee and Jan Waterston, Objects of Permanence spans a variety of media—wood, copper, mica, resin, among others—but speaks with a cohesive voice. These are objects that hold space through their presence rather than gesture; works that unfold over time rather than demanding immediate attention.

One of the show's focal works is the Eido Dining Table by DEGLAN—established by the artist-architect duo, Domenic Degner and Falko Landenberger—a sculptural wooden form painstakingly shaped by hand in the studio's Berlin workshop. Drawing from both Italian and Japanese craft traditions, the dining table epitomises the show's dedication to slow, intentional processes. Its textured surface and weighty presence reflect resilience and artisanal care.

In striking contrast are Korea-born multidisciplinary artist Kyeok Kim's delicate, intricate works made from crocheted copper wire layered with ottchil (a Korean lacquer), carbon and sawdust. Though modest in scale, Kim's practice—spanning jewellery, objects and installations—is rooted in intense labour and material sensitivity, offering a quiet yet powerful meditation on texture, translucency and transformation.

Furthermore, suspended at the heart of the art gallery is Lucen's Chandelier by Jean-Gabriel Neukomm, a glowing architectural presence that imbues the space with a sense of luminous elegance. Neukomm is also the founding principal of JG Neukomm Architecture and has developed a diverse portfolio spanning luxury residential, institutional, hospitality and retail projects.

Meanwhile, gallerist and founder of the Charles Burnand Gallery, Simon Stewart's Harnessing the Elements, a chandelier composed entirely of gold mica, pushes this luminosity into an elemental experience. A bold and immersive installation, Stewart's work explores the tension between raw geological power and refined contemporary design.

"Objects of Permanence looks forward, toward a design language grounded in integrity, in process, and in the belief that contemporary works can still carry the weight of legacy. In a culture saturated with the disposable, these works hold their ground," Stewart reflects in the press release.

Also on view are works by product designer Yanxiong Lin, including the Evaporate table design and Dawn's Embrace floor lamp, which extend the show's preoccupations into light and atmosphere. Offering a minimalist experience of space, Lin's work captures the transition between states: solid to ephemeral, stillness to glow.

Lastly, Birmingham-based furniture designer Jan Waterston's Primitive Excavation chair design and Self-Mining lounge chair further this dialogue between material and meaning. Carved in limed and black-stained wood, these pieces evoke archaeology, excavating not only form but introspection. They position design as both a physical process and an emotional journey.

Throughout the exhibition, the sculptural sensibility of each object resists functional immediacy. Instead, these sculptural designs are designed to be lived with, understood over time and appreciated for their lasting presence. In doing so, Objects of Permanence champions a design ethos rooted in patience, discipline and legacy.