Belgian designer and craftsman transforming materials to captivating shapes

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Ben Storms is a Belgian designer and craftsman who thinks in terms of materials. By using state-of-the-art techniques he transforms them to captivating shapes that defy expectations.

Storms equally masters thinking and making. He has refined his craft as a stonemason, sculptor and woodworker. In his practice, he often combines traditional techniques with high-tech processes to create unique pieces of furniture with a sculptural character.

“By creating shapes that verge on the impossible, I confuse the viewers, make them lose their balance briefly, and stimulate them to look at familiar materials with a fresh eye.”

Philosophy

“In my design process, I always start from raw materials. I like to work with solid materials that have been used for centuries, such as marble or steel. After all, I am the son of a stonemason. I love these materials for their natural beauty and strength.

In my practice as a designer, I push materials to their boundaries, often questioning common notions. Does marble always have to look heavy? Can steel look soft? By creating shapes that verge on the impossible, I confuse the viewers, make them lose their balance briefly, and stimulate them to look at familiar materials with a fresh eye.

Like the materiality that is the result, the transformational techniques in my practice are paradoxical: both centuries-old, e.g. the laborious sanding and polishing of marble, and ultramodern, e.g. 3D scanning or CNC milling. It is in this meeting of extremes that my works are nestled.”