Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaleditions.com/i/111460
artspace the furniture studio in 2007 when he combined his background in industrial design and fashion to forge a new path experimenting with furniture forms. He fell in love with timber, which remains a prominent material in Mono's handcrafted designs. "It's my first love," John explains. "I really enjoy the versatility of timber. Cut thinly into veneer, it is supple and pliable. In thicker pieces it can be structural and load-bearing. While I like experimenting with different materials and processes, I find I'm able to achieve a lot more with timber." Part of the learning process at JamFactory involves associates creating pieces for sale in the store, and the furniture studio now produces Press salad servers designed by John. The original challenge behind the design was to create a three- dimensional form from flat sheets of timber veneer. John overcame this by using a customised press tool to create the distinctive shape. Speaking about Mono, JamFactory director Brian Parkes told Inside Out magazine, "John's this sort of mad scientist with a very inquisitive nature. Kumi is more ruthless about aesthetic resolution, whereas John pushes to come up with a twist." John (who is Vietnamese) and Kumi (who is Japanese) have very different yet complementary approaches to their work. While John is adventurous, Kumi is more cautious. As John explains, "My favourite quote from Kumi is 'finding the softness in sharpness'. It's a very Eastern philosophy and it reminds me of a Zen koan. I think it's a way of saying that Kumi's work, while very refined, has a lot of underlying thought and consideration." Their Yin/Yang chemistry is the foundation for a beautiful design aesthetic that incorporates clean lines, gorgeous shapes and objects that beg to be touched. "The tactile experience of handling their beautiful things matters to both of them and, as a user, you can't help but engage with that," Parkes said. "John is interested in temperature – glass feels cold; wood, warm – these affect tactility and inform the process and sensibilities." The glassmaking is where Kumi comes in. While John was making waves in the furniture studio, she was an associate of the glass studio. Having studied at Osaka University and Ezra Glass Studio in Japan, Kumi spent six months working in glass studios around Australia. Her love affair with the country compelled her to return two years later, to Adelaide. Mono (which means 'object' in Japanese and 'one' in English) is the perfect name for this design duo that currently has five products in its stable. The elegantly simple Drop Bottle perfume flask resembles a raindrop. The Candle Nipper candelabra demonstrates the "twist" that Parkes referred to, with candles made from clear glass, filled with oil and set on a timber base. Mono's twist on a tea light is an LED light embedded in a brick made from Tasmanian oak and fused glass. Shiny Box is a hotblown and cold-worked glass box with a timber lid, while Line is a frosted glass block with timber inlay that makes a stunning paperweight. All pieces use glass and wood in perfect harmony, marrying the two artists' skills in a way that embodies their passion for craftsmanship and design. Thanks to their JamFactory pedigree, their works will be coveted and collected for many years to come. Mono is exhibiting from April 12 to May 10 at Magazine Gallery, 83a Hindley Street, Adelaide. For more information visit www.studiomono.com.au and www.jamfactory.com.au. XXV