as part of the performance program at design miami/ 2012 , fendi presented 'transformations', their most recent collaboration with maarten de ceulaer.
responding to the italian luxury brand's visual identity and legacy of patterns and emblems which have strong modern influences,
de ceulaer has developed a series of hand-made 'leather plank' modules - reminiscent of pieces of lumber - combined with lacquered wood boards
and tree stumps to form new furniture typologies. based-off fendi's signature 'pequin' motif, composed of large solid stripes,
the belgian designer's flat multicolored compositions are expressed through a three-dimensional installation which explores the boundaries
between soft and hard; natural and man-made; organic and geometric; the luxurious and mundane. the resulting work is an environment
in which the 'soft planks' can be applied wherever desired - the gesture of implementing them the same as nailing a board to a tree -
in which they collectively become a living pattern.

 

maarten de ceulaer transformations fendi at design miami
the belgian designer's hand-made leather modules are applied to lumber and tree trunks
image © designboom

 

maarten de ceulaer transformations fendi at design miami
furniture composition expressing the way in which the modular leather elements can be applied
image © designboom

 

 

 

maarten de ceulaer transformations fendi at design miami
detail
image © designboom

 

 

 

maarten de ceulaer transformations fendi at design miami
image © designboom

 

 

 

maarten de ceulaer transformations fendi at design miami
up close look at the colored 'leather planks' which are based-off fendi's stripped pequin motif
image © designboom

 

 

 

maarten de ceulaer transformations fendi at design miami
the 'leather planks' can be applied to the lacquered wood boards and tree stumps the same way as one would nail a board to a tree
image © designboom

 

 

 

maarten de ceulaer transformations fendi at design miami
the combination of the multicolored modules and wooden elements creates a 'living pattern'
image © designboom

 

 

 

maarten de ceulaer transformations fendi at design miami
maarten de ceulaer with his 'transformations' project for fendi
image courtesy of design miami/