To bloom and glow into life

With our everyday surroundings filled with objects that are manufactured, commoditized, and globally accessible, we find ourselves yearning for a more meaningful and genuine connection to the things around us.

Familiarity, creativity, craftsmanship, and the unique touch of an artisan’s hands bring that essential dose of comfort into our spaces. These are qualities that heavy mass production cannot truly replicate, no matter how technologically sophisticated.

Hacienda Crafts’s pendant lamps are finally woven and elegantly proportioned. Their streamlined volume makes them look quite contemporary despite their use of very traditional materials.

‘Blossom’

This year, I walked through CITEM’s Manila FAME show, aptly titled “Bloom”, quite impressed by its new offerings.

Cut paper takes on an entirely different dimension in One of T’s floor lamps, where an interplay of geometric forms creates an unexpected sense of solidity and stability. The result is both deceptive and clever, transforming what appears to be a delicate and flimsy material into something sculptural and substantial.

The Philippine design and furnishings industry continues to evolve and blossom. Over the years, it has grown not merely in scale, but in the development of pieces that embody the skill, imagination, and creativity of the Filipino craftsman.

Red Slab Pottery’s wall art from assembled slab-built pottery pieces has combination of textures that deviate from the traditional pottery forms and geometry. Despite its rectilinear composition, the subtle imperfections reveal its handmade character, transforming humble clay into an unexpected art form.

While beautiful to local eyes, the pieces exhibited are equally attractive to the international market.

Sophistication, playfulness, and ingenuity are felt throughout the works on display.

This table lamp by Jim Zarate Torres’ That One Piece Enterprise, is a light play on texture and softness, with paper stems and petals seemingly set on an imaginary vase.

Authenticity

Yet, what resonated most is that sense of authenticity—designs that reflect the sensibilities of Filipino designers and give expression to the dreams, traditions, and lived experiences of our local craftsmen.

This authenticity is reflected in the materials, design language, and their unique forming and fabrication techniques.

Destonos’ resin and lahar wall panel lend an organic impression despite its rectilinear forms. Perhaps the three dimensional facetted surfaces express fractal patterns reminiscent of those found in nature.

Indeed, design is not merely about creating objects, but about giving meaning to the things we create.

And in a world where almost anything can be imagined, manufactured, and replicated, perhaps the more important question is no longer what we can create, but rather, what kind of space we create with the things we fill it with.

One of T’s tabletop is absolutely one of a kind! A solid slab of wood has been carved out, letters spelling out the lyrics of Sting’s song, “Fields of Gold”. Music and poetry are transcending their traditional forms and come atop this table for a tactile and visual experience.

Distinct voice

How, then, does Filipino design and craftsmanship find its place, and more importantly, its own distinct voice in an increasingly globalized world?

Perhaps the answer lies in creating for itself and creating from within, by drawing from the context of our own experiences, traditions, materiality, and execution.

A rich red tone and contemporary forms breathe new life into local materials, lending an international flavor to these abaca vases by Tadeco’s Jaime Brias.

It’s about elevating these elements through thoughtful and ingenious design, produced only with the highest standards of craftsmanship.

It is also important to keep creating so that the expressions of our identity remain present, relevant, and a constant part of our everyday lives.

Kenneth Cobonpue’s nautilus floor lamp looks like a graceful unfurling, where light and brightness come through its openings and from within the volute. The delicate proportions of this piece is quite notable, making it a very pleasant object to look at.

The author is a Principal Architect of Asuncion-Berenguer Inc., a full-service architectural and interior design firm recognized for designing experiences and spaces that elevate everyday living through thoughtfully crafted environments. Contact her through [email protected] or @isabelbasuncion