Fundamental

Fundamental's forms begin where nature and mathematics meet: in clear structures, subtle rhythms, and forces that create an unexpected lightness. Their objects do not grow out of rigid models, but… Read more

Background Information about Fundamental

Introduction

Fundamental's forms begin where nature and mathematics meet: in clear structures, subtle rhythms, and forces that create an unexpected lightness. Their objects do not grow out of rigid models, but rather dynamic phenomena—from the behavior of light, the logic of patterns, the balance between weight and floating.

This fascination has led to two groups of works that are particularly prominent at LUMAS.

The Gravity Collection is based on geometric formulas that play with perception and balance. Each piece is a concentration of a principle—reduced, yet multi-layered. The warped grid creates the impression of an invisible force deforming the surface. Depending on the viewing angle, the color effect changes, lines shift, and depth emerges from structure. The elements are constructed in such a way that the angle of inclination of the grid can be varied—an object that reacts to observation and makes perspective a creative moment.

The brass objects, which depict cityscapes in abstract form, are more earthy and tactile: Berlin, Paris, Manhattan. Street grids, rivers, squares – everything becomes an ornamental relief that is both a map and a pattern. Coasters and trays reflect the same attitude: reduction, material fidelity, clarity.

They are manufactured in a Berlin workshop for people with disabilities – a combination of social responsibility and craftsmanship that gives each piece an extra dimension.

Fundamental usually works with only one material per object. This restriction sharpens the expression: steel shows line, brass shows warmth. Nothing distracts, nothing conceals. The material remains the actual source of the effect – clearly legible, easy to maintain, and completely recyclable.

The manufacturing process follows the same principle. The metalwork is created in collaboration with specialized companies in northern Italy, whose expertise comes from the field of medical precision. In Berlin, social workshops take care of the assembly. Sustainable raw materials, recycled packaging, and virtually plastic-free supply chains are not an afterthought, but part of the design process.

Despite their structural rigor, the objects retain a playful lightness. Perhaps because they arise from observations familiar from childhood: how things shimmer, float, arrange themselves. Fundamentally, this curiosity is combined with architectural precision to create objects that condense meaning. Fun and fundamental are not a contradiction in this studio. Their work shows that clarity and lightness, meaning and playfulness are not mutually exclusive, but reinforce each other.