SLABS
Side Table & Stool

for Aequo Gallery

material: german silver, wood
dimensions: L44 x W44 x H38 cm / L37 x W30 x H40 cm
year: 2024
edition: 11 pieces 

 

available through aequo gallery

In her exploration of materials, Linde finds inspiration in the rugged landscapes of Karnataka in India, where granite stone boulders meld into each other, shaping new volumes from leftover fragments. Embracing a primitive ethos in her interpretation of repoussé, opting not for over-designing but instead allowing the intrinsic qualities of the material to guide her technique.

While the architecture of central India guides her forms, the exploration of repoussé takes on an inspirational guise that leads to the development of a new technique. The principle of the traditional method remains, but its form is entirely reinvented; rather than using a thin sheet of metal, a thick surface of German silver entirely envelops hand-carved teak wood blocks, molded into the desired shapes. It is thanks to the innovative proposition strength of the gallery’s partner workshop based in Alibag, across Mumbai, and headed by Jeevaram Suthar, that this technique was born. These blocks are then joined together through brass soldering points. The fusion of untouched welding reflects a commitment to honesty in the process, where details serve as a visual language. Wooden molds provide structural support, hidden within the final piece, while metal components are bound by the strength of the solder.

This serendipitous union of shapes, akin to a pattern emerging from happenstance, informs her general approach to design. Another avenue of her creative inquiry lies in flat shapes, where patterns emerge from the accidental arrangements of leftovers. This penchant for utilizing remnants extends to her mother’s practice of crafting natural stone paths in her garden—a nod to the organic beauty of imperfection.