This September, London Design Fair introduces a new initiative to celebrate the materials currently making the biggest impact on the international design scene. The inaugural Material of the Year showcase explores the aesthetic and structural versatility of Jesmonite® – the ‘chameleon’ making material that an ever-growing number of today’s designers are employing in varied and innovative ways.
Alongside pieces from designers currently working in Jesmonite, PRIN London has been invited to create a site-specific installation. Founder Ariane Prin is taking the pioneering technique behind her RUST collection of unique vessels (launched at the Herrick Gallery 2015) and using it to create Rustiles – a tile-based homage to the iconic London brick made from Jesmonite and metal dust.
Presenting a remarkable combination of colours, textures and unrepeatable natural patterns, the installation will be unveiled at the Old Truman Brewery on 21–24 September.
'So many things can be made in Jesmonite – it’s versatile, and I love the fact that it sets quickly (no kiln required). I first used it back in 2013. My studio mate had a small bucket of it left and gave me some. I had a lot of waste materials in the studio, including a bag a key dust. On that day, I wasn’t searching for anything in particular; I was just experimenting and having fun by mixing materials together. I had a freelance job at the time and when I came back to the studio a week later the samples with the key dust had oxidised. I thought it could be an interesting thing to continue pushing. I would have never imagined that I would set up a business out of this accidental mix of circumstances.’ - Ariane Prin