Artist in the Spotlight – MARCIN RUSAK
Detail of Floral table – Photography courtesy of Marcin Rusak Studio
The Craftsman
You may be forgiven for thinking this beautiful image is a still life painting by the Dutch masters of the 16th century . However, look again and you can see real flowers frozen in time, suspended in resin. Their beauty preserved.
The talented craftsman that has created this process is Polish designer Marcin Rusak. A craftsman that combines beautiful art, with furniture. To create stunning statement pieces. For each design, he selects and arranges blooms and foliage from his floral library. Each piece of work is completely unique. It’s not surprising that this man is taking the collectors world by storm.
Flora Table – Photography courtesy of Marcin Rusak Studio
Marcin studied at the Design Academy Eindhoven. He then continued his studies at The Royal College of Art, in London. Where he now runs a studio in the capital. With all of his furniture pieces being produced in the Netherlands.
I met Marcin at the London Design Festival where he was featuring in the Future Heritage collection at Decorex. He also features in our London Design Week Blog. With his latest RMB collection he was showing at Decorex.
Since first seeing Marcin’s Flora Noir collection featured in Interior Magazines I have been an an avid admirer of this designers work. His Botanical Flora Cabinet is sure to become an icon of the future. And, I am sure the newly commissioned Credenza Cabinet with soon be appearing in the latest editorials.
Crezenza Cabinet – Photography courtesy of Marcin Rusak Studio
The Process
Having a family history of 100 years of flower growing, he developed a fascination in the process of using flowers as a material for his work. Collecting discarded blooms and waste from florists. He found that the process of decay could be just as beautiful as the moment of full bloom. These faded blooms were embedded in black resin to create the beautiful panels for his work.
What may seem quite a simple process is rather more complex that it would first appear. Using flowers as a material, Marcin had to find a way to preserve them in the resin. Working together with a scientist, he found a way to inject flowers with bacteria, in order to transform them into aged material. Over a long period of time, the flowers build up silver voids of light around their petals creating a unique ageing effect.
However, Marcin doesn’t regard flowers as something that characterises him as an artist. They are simply a tool, a material, to emphasise what he is thinking about.
Flora Cabinet and low table – Photography courtesy of Marcin Rusak Studio
and finally ….
I am excited to see what this young designer will be creating next. It’s amazing when you see such passion and dedication to perfecting a craft.
You can find more example of Marcin’s work on his website www.marcinrusak.com
This pieces are just so beautiful! I used to have a flower press as a little girl and would have loved to be able to preserve the flowers in some way.
I am sure going forward Natalie that the flower press will evolve and resin will be the future preservation. Marcin is definitely leading the way in this field.
What an arttist, to take the simplest of all things (aka a table) and turn it into a masterpiece like that. Beautiful. I guess his pieces will be like seeing them as if for the first time, every time. So much detail.
A fantastic source for interior designers!
Thank you Jenny – yes it’s such a beautiful way to create a lasting piece of art.
As a former florist, I have to say I am completely and utterly smitten with Marcin’s designs. They are STUNNING and would simply love to own at least one design if funds ever allowed it 😉 Thanks for introducing him to us x
I feel the same way Maria – I would love to have furniture that beautiful in my own home.
Wow, so amazing and interesting!
Thank you for your comment Donna x
wow, those are amazing. I love the Future Heritage section at Decorex, it’s where I first spied Phil Cuttance. I love that he has incorporated his beautiful work into furniture such a great idea. Thanks for highlighting him
It’s so exciting when you find talented new designers Mary. It will be interesting to see how Marcin’s work progresses.
Wow these are amazing! What a talent!
Absolutely beautiful. Certainly more art than furniture in my books, and I love that each could be completely unique and tell a story. I regret not pressing the petals from my wedding bouquet as they would have been a really meaningful keepsake, but now I’m thinking they could have become a table!
Yes now wouldn’t that have been a wonderful keepsake Karen!
Wow what in interesting concept! They really are beautiful, thanks so much for sharing x
Yes they are amazing Becky – thank you for your comment x
Simply mesmerising! I absolutely LOVE Marcin’s work, especially the centre tables! I will check him and might just have to get in touch with him about future projects! Thank you for sharing!
It’s breath-taking work, isn’t it Catherine? – that’s great to hear you might be commissioning Marcin the future!