Until January 27, 2024, the Carpenters Workshop Gallery in Los Angeles is exhibiting concrete seats by French designer Martin Laforêt. Intrigued, Acumen wanted to find out more about the designer’s world and, above all, what lies behind the design of his sometimes functional, sometimes unusual sculptures.
At just 31 years of age, Martin Laforêt has what it takes to become a great designer. Graduating from the Design Academy Eindhoven in 2015, the young man has developed a real love for craftsmanship as his practice has progressed. The proof is in the palaver chair – a piece of carved wooden furniture originally from Africa – which he has revisited with a masterful hand.
“My work is an attempt to bring out the specific personality of materials and produce original forms. I seek a personal expression often inspired by my current interest in shapes and combinations of materials. I like objects linked to the fields of sculpture, industry and architecture,” says the designer.
Experimenting With Materials
If there’s one material Martin is particularly fond of, it’s concrete. Which explains his first collection, “The Mould Objects”. Made from a combination of concrete, aluminium and steel rebar, each casting used in the design is an integral part of the furniture pieces. Martin Laforêt drew his inspiration from the prefabricated concrete blocks typically used on construction sites.
In his work, the designer pays particular attention to form, but also to colour. As can be seen from the V1LC7 Pink seat, in which Martin has given concrete a less abrupt appearance. This construction material is now transformed into a functional work of art. Although flawless at first glance, the young man has left the metal structure visible on the reverse side, so as not to forget the influences that shaped him.
With his first solo show at Carpenters Workshop Gallery in Los Angeles, Martin Laforêt demonstrates that concrete can also be sexy.
©Benjamin Baccarani Courtesy Carpenters workshop gallery
Carpenters Workshop Gallery.
7070 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood, CA 90038, U.S.A.