Lukas Cober channels his inner child for 'Where the Wild Things Are'

Dutch artist Lukas Cober's latest design exhibition Where the Wild Things Are, is inspired by the fantastical world of a 1963 children's picture book of the same name by American artist and author Maurice Sendak. The collection of sculptural design furnishings is on display from September 12 - November 2, 2024, at the Objects With Narratives gallery in Brussels, Belgium, which articulates parables of global contemporary artists and designers highlighting materiality and reinventing traditional craftsmanship through their functional art.

In his latest solo exhibition, Cober handles fibreglass and resin with sensitivity and finesse to utilise its materiality for his vision. The exhibits showcase experimental exploration of materials to create unconventional forms with dreamy, drape-like details reflecting childlike curiosity and naivety, as the artist attempts to channel his inner child.

Based in the Netherlands, Cober founded his interdisciplinary studio in 2018 after studying product design. As an artist fascinated by handmade surfboards, he grounds his work in craftsmanship and strives for timelessness and authenticity. Cober shapes objects through aesthetic and emotional expression while pushing the boundaries of conventional materiality. Fibreglass, resin and wood are some of the materials that he uses to create organic pieces portraying an elegant, sculptural quality.

Where the Wild Things Are showcases 18 fibreglass and resin designs, many of which are freeform and one-of-a-kind. The Freeform lounge sofa is crafted from fibreglass, featuring a satin-finished exterior that contrasts with the leather-upholstered seating. Made of fibreglass, natural flax, black pigment and finished in cream glazing, the Freeform lounge chair has a fluid appearance resembling two folded and draped pieces of fabric. The oval Freeform coffee table features an opal fibreglass table top in clear glazing.

A statement sculptural lighting design piece, the Freeform chandelier lamp is pleasing to the eye with its simple yet elegant handling of natural green fibreglass. Exhibiting a distinct light and shadow play through its folds is the Freeform wallpiece, a circular, wall-hung sculpture art gracing the exhibition space within the functional art gallery for collectible design, bespoke and storytelling objects.

A deep black glaze on top of green fibreglass elements creates deep shadows across the non-uniform surfaces of the New Wave sideboard. The minimalist New Wave stool in fibreglass and the deep black and blue fibreglass New Wave round coffee table create an informal seating experience. The special edition of the New Wave side table creates a strong impression due to the contrast of shiny blue fibreglass and matte black legs. Following a monochromatic colour scheme and symmetrical form, the New Wave crystal green stool designs in fibreglass could be a subtle yet impactful addition to contemporary spaces.

A clear glazed black fibreglass seating, the Freeform bench sculpture is a hollow and asymmetrical art piece. Relatedly, the folded base of the smoked green fibreglass curved bench exudes drama with faded black glazing and a drop-shaped seating surface. The two-seater curved sculpture is one of the exhibition's most striking pieces, featuring an asymmetric, serpentine form of creased, curved glass surfaces made from blue fibreglass and finished in clear glazing. The New Moon wallpiece/ shelf, one of the smallest pieces in the collection, features a curved blue fibreglass that rests on two sleek aluminium members.

The organic forms of the casted aluminium Liquid stool complement the circular smoke-infused fibreglass of the Freeform dining table. The Liquid coffee table design is flawlessly solid sculpted with resin and the Vortex-Dawn console features a heavy pedestal-like form made from bronze, adding mystery and magic to the slim, elongated resin tabletop. Folded fibreglass sheets are held together by a bronze base with non-uniform perforations to create the Arcane side table.

The static and sculptural furniture designs comprising Where the Wild Things Are create movement in space through the gentle curves, dramatic forms and serene visual appeal of see-through fibreglass and resin, inspiring one to perceive the objects as ripples of water frozen in time, while manifesting memories of child play. The collection embodies Cober's signature technique of shaping elements with clean lines and minimalistic forms, driven by the innocence and wonder of childhood.

'Where the Wild Things Are' is on view from September 12 - November 2, 2024, at the Objects With Narratives gallery in Brussels, Belgium.