Diego Faivre x Hugo Beheregaray exhibit vibrant abstract objects at Adorno Gallery

"The most important thing to us is to continue exploring and experimenting when we create something, we want to ensure it’s offering something interesting, regardless of the medium," said product designer Diego Faivre and visual artist Hugo Béhérégaray. Known for their abilities to realise functional product design in captivating ways, the creative designer duo has partnered once again to build a collection of sculptural lamps and storage solutions. The collaboration came naturally for both designers, as they dropped out of art school in Bordeaux, France. Their exquisite design approach, inquisitive nature, and similar values in terms of representing artistic creations and execution brought them together to create the sculptural collection. "It's like meeting an alternate version of yourself - same, same, but different,” exclaim the designers.

Comprising three figurative lamps titled Boogie Tropical Lamp, Secondary Splash Light and Yellow Magic Lantern and a vibrant storage system named Greasy Hot Dog Shelf, Faivre and Béhérégaray created abstract pieces that emanate a whimsical concept and a colourful outlook. Each of the sculptural objects with its bright colours and complex forms is suggestive of architectural elements, robotics, and in some places, even human and animal features. The conspicuous look of the three lamps not only elevates them as ornamental lighting designs but also compels observers to deep-dive into the thought behind the contextual design. The duo’s playful textures, curved shapes, contrasting colours, and engrossing forms, fabricating ornamental pieces make for exquisite collectables. The designer duo’s creative process involved a smooth translation of a 2D drawing from Hugo into a 3D cardboard shape, later transformed into functioning lamps. Once the shape was completed, Faivre played around with the colour schemes and reflections, resulting in dazzling pieces.

The use of primary colours and animated textures in the Secondary Splash Light lamp instil a sense of nostalgia, appearing like a rooster crowing in the morning but in vivid and playful colours, they are almost reminiscent of childhood wooden chicken toys. Similarly, the Greasy Hot Dog Shelf with perfect cut-outs in the shape of hot dogs almost immediately arouses the feeling of eating a greasy hot dog. Initially, the shelf wasn't intended to look like hot dogs, a quick sketch from Hugo and Diego’s yellow mustard colour choice led to the shelf being shaped up as an adaptation of the gorgeous snack.

Lastly, the Boogie Tropical Lamp, a grooving starlet, illuminates the entire space with its three lights that blend in with every indoor plant. The Yellow Magic Lantern was the first creation in the lamp design collection and is a playful abstraction of reflections and shapes. Formed as a result of the light from a lantern’s play on different coloured surfaces, every piece is a sensational display of spectacular forms resulting from endless curiosity.

Born in France, the Netherlands-based designer Diego Faivre offers complete transparency in the production and manufacturing processes of his designed works. As an iconic designer, Faivre strongly believes in time and money relativity. As a response to mass production and consequential quality deterioration, the designer ensures spending time adding value and quality to each of his products. The French-Dutch visual artist Hugo Béhérégaray, on the other hand, observes his practice through specially curated, carnivalesque ways that make up our daily lives and urban situations. For Béhérégaray, productivity and scale are independent of economical reasons and even street-found materials can be sculptured into extravagance.