Natural Material Studio

Highlighting the ability of Natural Material Studio's own bio-textiles to diffuse and spread light, their Lighting Works are for the first time exhibited in US at Design Miami with the Italian platform Alcova.
“From a position where we invent, create and use new, natural materials we are determined to understand how we can design in collaboration with nature and the natural occurrences that happen within these organic processes. We are seeking to find the balancing point between human and natures own agency.” - Bonnie Hvillum

The Lighting Works series LW-B005-1-7 forms the fifth iteration of an ongoing investigation into light sculptures by Natural Material Studio. Led by creative director Bonnie Hvillum, the studio has used their bio-textiles within a number of spatial installations and commissions for companies like CALVIN KLEIN, Restaurant NOMA, Snohetta, Adidas and more, noting the unique semi-transparent qualities and the visual depth produced when combined with both natural and artificial illumination.
Highlighting the ability of Natural Material Studio's own bio-textiles to diffuse and spread light, their Lighting Works utilize tension and suspension to create sculptural works that balance organic textures with simple forms. Created from a mixture of bio-polymers, natural softeners and chalk, natural variations – rich streaks, bubbles and shifts in transparency – are instilled throughout a production process. Combined with cool-toned LED illumination, the Lighting Works continue investigations by Natural Material Studio into the forming of objects that balance natural and human agency - opening new understandings towards the ambiguous boundary point between art and design, along with creating new methods that promote a more fluid creative tradition alongside natures own processes.

“We want to take part in creating a new design agenda and tradition - one that we can look back on in 50 years time and be proud of. A movement that holds courage and will, and the long vision when it comes to creating a better and exciting future complete with more experimental design, more disruption, and more innovation.” - Bonnie Hvillum

“With our cross-disciplinary and systemic way of working we aim to bring the collaboration to the forefront, and set the agenda for how we believe design and art should synergize.” - Bonnie Hvillum.

Their work revolves around the principles of circular design – reuse, recycle, renew and rethink. Through a material-led approach centered around the properties and qualities of often discarded or under-utilized natural resources, Natural Material Studio explore material limitations and opportunities in order to create novel design solutions that contain a highly artistic voice.

From her studio and workshop south of Copenhagen (DK), creative director Bonnie Hvillum has transformed years of immersive material and interaction research into Natural Material Studio. Leading a small and dedicated team, the output of Natural Material Studio aims to expand our collective understanding of material conceptions through artistic research, design, and spatial installations. Collaborations and commissions allow the studio to work cross-disciplinary and systemically, turning research orientated processes into works and exhibitions that explore phenomenological and speculative themes in relation to materials, cultural norms, nature and potential futures. The clients of the studio ranges from Adidas to Snohetta and further to Design Museum Denmark.