FEARON fuses art with functional furniture designs with aluminium as a chief medium

The creative discipline of furniture design has transformed in recent years from being merely utilitarian to essaying thoughtful, statement pieces that inject life and personality into any setting. Currently, some furniture designers are adopting outlandish and unorthodox styles that highlight their individuality and artistic flair through these functional objects. It is widely accepted that abstract and vibrant furniture pieces operate as focal points and conversation starters, arousing interest and encouraging exploration. Australian design and fabrication company FEARON founded by brothers Jack and Mark Fearon adopts this distinctive style, expanding the parameters of conventional design and investigating new horizons of aesthetic expression. The company creates custom pieces for interior designers, architects, gallerists, art collectors, as well as for those with an avid interest in design.

FEARON was conceived in 2019 as a fabrication workshop, making large-scale water trucks. The designer duo’s furniture exploration began with offcuts from a tank, which they utilised to craft a stool design called ‘The Chub’. “We taught ourselves how to build everything from the tank to the pumping system—Mark has a background in boiler-making and worked fixing big ships around Australia, while I did a stint of plumbing when I was younger. We started making metal furniture as a creative outlet, and to have some fun with design,” shares Jack.

Although FEARON adopts an idiosyncratic style for their furniture pieces, they can also be described as ‘functional art’ and augmented further with a blend of sustainability features. Aluminium, regarded globally for its aptitude for being infinitely recyclable, is one of the key materials employed by them, owing to their experience with making tanks. “We've chosen to use mostly aluminium for our designs, which in itself is 100 per cent recyclable. We also always look for ways to use scrap pieces of aluminium in newer ways. We’re in the process of playing around with a kiln, where we’ll be able to melt metal off-cuts and turn them into furniture and art pieces,” explains Jack.

The design narrative is one of vibrant colours, strength, and durability, with a personal touch added in the form of colours that the product designers incorporate in their own homes, ranging from rich jewel tones to playful pastels. Every object is adorned with an intriguing form, and ennobled by a catchy name, a signature of the brand. Jack explains further by saying, “Usually we think of the names once we see the piece taking form. For our more experimental pieces, we might think of a concept (or name) first, and let that lead us through the design process.”

The Australian designers achieve a balance between sculptural aesthetics and functionality by designing instinctively, through experimentation and employed craftsmanship. “The research we do is all around portions which involve physically experimenting with different sizes and shapes. We'll create something and then fine-tune it by making small cuts or changes until it looks and feels right to us. I guess I would call it a trial-and-error approach,” he continues.

FEARON displays a thrilling departure from typical design norms, offering a refreshing and dynamic approach to interior design as well as objects. Each product design, ranging from sofas to beds, and cabinets to tables, are like a work of art. To add to their collection, presently, FEARON is working on one-off singular items such as mirrors, bathroom cabinets, lights, desks, and rocking chairs. “We have been working on some exciting one-off singular items that are a lot wilder in terms of design and colour use. We are really experimenting with asymmetry," reveals Jack.

Text by Ria Jha