Wonmin Park is lauded for his dreamy resin pieces in soft pastel shades, a style which has become synonymous with the Korean designer. In 2016, Park began dabbling in more rigid materials, collaborating with marble specialist Testi for Wallpaper* Handmade.
This year, he is in an experimental moode again, launching a new collection of limited-edition tables (his signature) in patinated aluminium, another first for the designer. Comprising high and low tables, the collection is being presented by Carpenters Workshop Gallery at PAD this week, and also marks the inaugural London showing of the Paris-based designer’s works.
‘I like resin because of its colour, transparency and texture, but it is not a strong material,’ says Park. ‘That’s why I needed to work with it in a certain form. Aluminium is a different story. It’s strong and lightweight, allowing me to create light forms and structures with it.’
‘Plain Cuts’ by Wonmin Park
Titled ‘Plain Cuts’, the collection, as the name suggests, is characterised by cut aluminium sheets. ‘Structures are exposed to the surface and it becomes part of the work itself,’ explains Park. In fact, the intersections of different metal sheets are evident on the tables’ surfaces, creating a decorative grid-like motif. Park traded his softer resin palette for a more industrial look; but, as he is quick to point out, aluminium has appealing qualities too. ‘The colour variation with patina are beautiful. Patina on aluminium is like painting on a canvas.’
The collection furthers Park’s research into the simplicity of forms, his penchant for minimalism evident in the bare geometrics of the tables. ‘My work is about simplicity, purity and perfection,’ he explains. ‘For me, simple forms are more difficult because it has to be reasonable and still be interesting. But I believe it gives the most powerful result.’
Left, a detail of one of Park’s designs. Right, the designer in his Paris studio with prototype maquettes, including his Wallpaper* Handmade project – a desk he created with Italian marble specialist Testi
Left, a detail of one of Park’s designs. Right, the designer in his Paris studio with prototype maquettes, including his Wallpaper* Handmade project – a desk he created with Italian marble specialist Testi
Metal sheets are assembled in a grid-like structure, with the joins visible on the table tops
Metal sheets are assembled in a grid-like structure, with the joins visible on the table tops
‘Structures are exposed to the surface and it becomes part of the work itself,’ explains Park
‘Structures are exposed to the surface and it becomes part of the work itself,’ explains Park
The designer says, ‘For me simple forms are more difficult because it has to be reasonable and still be interesting’
The designer says, ‘For me simple forms are more difficult because it has to be reasonable and still be interesting’