If it’s summer where you are and you need some icy relief, discover the Zen collection by Draga & Aurel, a multidisciplinary studio founded by Draga Obradovic and Aurel K. Basedow. When we last caught up with the designers, they had just launched the Flare series, which brought the concept of light refractions into furniture. Their latest collection, presented by Rossana Orlandi Gallery during Milan Design Week, expands on this idea, capturing multi-colored light refractions in what looks like blocks of ice.

Photo: Riccardo Gasperoni

Photo: Riccardo Gasperoni

In actuality, these ice sculptures are three coffee tables and a dining table made entirely from Lucite and handcrafted by artisans in Como, Italy. The frosted effect is a surface treatment that gives the tables their cool (no pun intended) look. Within each table, sheets of pastel-hued Lucite replicate the phenomenon of playful light refractions that have been frozen in place. Each table is unique, reinforcing the idea that the series is truly a work of art.

Photo: Riccardo Gasperoni

It’s clear as glass that Draga & Aurel have a deep fascination with light and how we perceive it in the world around us. To learn more about their curiosities, we chat with the studio and get the scoop on what’s next for the practice:

The interplay of color and light is a recurring theme in your work. Can you share more about why you are drawn to this source of inspiration?

Our fascination with color and, consequently, our interest in light as an activator of color through matter is something we have always been interested in, as artists and craftsmen. We investigated and we still explore this interplay that is constantly changing, and for this reason, it is challenging. We found in resin the best material for playing with color and light. What we have achieved is the result of years of experimentation and study. In the design process, we use material samples, putting together them with different colors, shapes, and thicknesses. We observe the reaction of light going through different layers and it’s only at that point that we can see the perfect interconnection between color, light, matter, and form.

Your work often merges art and functional design, as seen in these sculptural tables. How do you approach the balance between creating pieces that are both visually striking and practical for everyday use?

Functionality and aesthetics are often seen as two concepts that are difficult to reconcile, believing that it is necessary to sacrifice one in favor of the other. We do not find this to be the case: our pieces are collectible design objects because of the experimentation and the craftsmanship behind them, but they always perform a function, this aspect makes them real-life objects.
We like to go deep into the research and elevation of materials (on the other hand we have made acrylic resin our stylistic signature); in the same way, we need to bring the material back into a context, to make it, so to speak, ‘functional’ with respect to the object itself.

A your studio continues to evolve, what new projects or directions are you excited to explore next? Can you give us a glimpse into what’s on the horizon for Draga & Aurel?

The path we have built and wish to pursue moves in three directions, parallel but interconnected. Our art design project, with the Transparency matters collection in particular, sees us more and more active in the world of galleries: we work hard to make our presence in the sector more solid, and we are grateful to have found important partners, from Rossana Orlandi to Nina Yashar to Todd Merrill, with whom we also develop exclusive projects.
Similarly, we are involved in new projects for design companies: this year during Milan Design Week we debuted with Poltrona Frau and Giorgetti, two historic furniture companies with whom we have found great affinities. Also from this point of view, our commitment is to create valuable collaborations, which can be meaningful for us and for the company.

Last but not least, our purely artistic side, which is expressed in the production of Aurel’s paintings: a project that is always growing, so much so that we have enlarged our workshop to be able to provide the right space for artistic production.

Draga Obradovic and Aurel K. Basedow \\\ Photo: Anne Timmer

To learn more about the design or Draga & Aurel, visit draga-aurel.com.

As the Senior Contributing Editor, Vy Yang is obsessed with discovering ways to live well + with intention through design. She’s probably sharing what she finds over on Instagram stories. You can also find her at vytranyang.com.