At Random: Oskar Zieta

How does the fact that these pieces are unique in a series impact your work?
Understanding the materials we work with gives us the opportunity to produce both short series of custom objects and to create individual uniques. It allows us to create, experiment and even play with new forms.

How do you think design is evolving nowadays towards the field of contemporary art?
Design and contemporary art are interdependent and it is sometimes difficult to define in which category certain works belong. When creating a new form, we do not wonder if we create design or art. We believe in an intuitive design process. We have learned the methods of material processing and we work like an artist with their hands in clay. By controlling our production process, we leave the material a certain freedom; in this way, details, nuances and errors are created that inspire us to come up with beautiful objects.

How are both interacting?
The boundaries between art, design and innovation are blurred. Transdisciplinary is the key to developing new, fresh and bold solutions that not only arouse emotions, but also move imaginations. This is the quintessence of the times in which we live and the image of the design evolution. Using advanced tools to create objects makes science and art permeate like never before. Moving on the borders of various disciplines such as architecture, engineering, design is the way to draw inspiration from them.

Why do we have those two words, fine arts versus visual arts, that have been separated? Do you think they should be interacting more?
There are no hard-fixed boundaries separating these two categories. In our opinion, art does not like to be categorised, because it is difficult to qualify works in one specific category. In the same way, we have been escaping definitions for years. Our works are hard to categorise, because they are partly technology, art, innovation, design. We focus on the intuitive design process and passion for creation.

Is functionality an important consideration in your process?
The level of functionality depends on the work, like it was in the case of the WIR sculpture. Its character is based on the variability that each viewer experiences by changing the observation point. Its variability is a motivating factor for moving around the interior of the gallery in order to discover and explore its form from every side, to view it from the highest level. It’s a kind of totemicity.

Oskar Zieta’s Harmony Emerald-Blue is part of The Random Collection, celebrating the 10-year anniversary of TL Magazine. Launched at Art Brussels (19-22 April), it is always available at the Spazio Nobile Gallery in Brussels and will be at an upcoming exhibition at the Biennale Interieur in Kortrijk from October 18-22.