In this new series, we'll provide insights into the market of collectibles, highlight some artists and their creative process and share some opinions and thoughts on the design world.
Today, we'll discuss the scale of collectible pieces, the growing "supersize" trend and the stand some artists recently took in their works.
Over the last few months, the industry has noticed an increasing demand for large scale pieces. Voluminous, statement artwork seems to gain popularity. In the world of collectibles, where designs can often be manufactured with custom finishes and dimensions, the topic of scale has always been popular. Yet, architects and designers - and even collectors - used to ask if certain pieces could be made smaller. It seems this trend has shifted.
In Caroline Roux's article "Supersize me", in The Salon's 2022 Intersection magazine, several designers mention the new normal of working with their clients' upsized spaces: "All our clients are moving to the next size of yacht, and the dining table to seat 24 is a basic requirement", one of them shares. French architect Charles Zana embraces this trend by offering a collection of furniture that is easily scalable: "You would have to install two, three or even four sofas to complement a drawing room. Sometimes, it's a much better solution to use on really big one".
Exploring materiality, proportions and form, London based architect Benni Allan investigated ways of sitting in different culture. "Celebrating both bold and clean lines", the Low Collection features imposing oak pieces expressing the true characteristics of the material and taking the centre stage.
Scalable art pieces is also in demand at Benni Allan's Table One, EBBA Architect. Designers and architects we work with have expressed their desire to feature upsized artwork in their clients' homes. Artists we represent have been commissioned to alter the original dimensions of their designs. DRAMA Studio for example, has been commissioned to rethink the Utopia 1 Sideboard - originally 1,9m wide - to reach 2,5m for one client in Dubai. Maximalism is clearly in and, in a global art market that continues to grow, it seems that size does matter.