Prima Materia

The exhibition “Prima Materia – design by Studio Formafantasma” at the Stedelijk Museum’s-Hertogenbosch is the first survey of the oeuvre of Studio Formafantasma.

The Stedelijk Museum’s-Hertogenbosch presents the design duo Studio Formafantasma: Andrea Trimarchi and Simone Farresin, two Italian designers from Eindhoven.

The title of the exhibition “Prima Materia” refers to alchemy: the transformation of everyday raw materials into precious goods. Andrea Trimarchi and Simone Farresin do something similar as designers.

An extensive research and work process results in products and installations that raise questions about the role of industry, globalisation and sustainability. Thus the Botanica collection arose from the question of what plastics can be made of when there is no more oil. For this purpose they developed their own vegetable polymers (plastics) for making vases, bowls, a coffee table and lamps.

The designs of Studio Formafantasma offer an alternative vision to today’s consumer society and the role that design plays in it. Their unique, handmade products (table service made of a flour based material, stools made of fish leather and sea sponge, bottles made of resin) are statements about material and function. By opting for natural materials and pre-industrial (traditional) techniques and combining them with new possibilities of use, Studio Formafantasma makes suggestions for an alternative, democratic design method: what they offer is a kind of manual for getting to create yourself.

The exhibition is accompanied by the publication of the book Formafantasma by Lecturis.