olivia lee creates marvellous marble factory for SingaPlural

olivia lee creates marvellous marble factory for SingaPlural
image by the primary studio

opening at this year’s edition of SingaPlural, the ‘marvellous marble factory’ reimagines the traditional connotations associated with the metamorphic rock. the work, the creation of industrial designer olivia lee, highlights the exquisite nature of marble through the playful subversion of materiality, scale and process. by changing the scale of interaction, the pieces are able to call greater attention to the range and complexity of stone textures involved.

small blocks of marble are processed on a contraption built from scratch
image © designboom

‘the installation presents a fabricated tale of how marble is ‘made’ in a fictional universe where pigments are sourced from exotic locales, amalgamated and cured into the slabs we see today’, explains olivia lee. ‘machines for the factory were built from scratch to add weight to the reality of this world. these contraptions were designed to look possible, yet ultimately farcical. the marvellous marble factory begs the question: what is more important? consuming the story or the truth?’.

natural stones has been hand cut to mimic the appearance of confectionery
image by the primary studio

the temporary factory addresses the SingaPlural festival theme of ‘process’, and responds to the current fixation with approach, its role in establishing the authenticity of products and the exaltation of storytelling. natural stones from granite, marble, onyx and quartz have been carefully chosen and hand cut to mimic the appearance of ice cream, lollipops, chocolates and bonbons. consequently, the realization that these deceptive items cannot be consumed leads to an unexpected and surprising experience of the material.

ice cream, lollipops, chocolates and bonbons are represented as part of the installation
image © designboom

material originating from spain takes the appearance of a tray of bonbons
image by the primary studio

marble was carefully sourced from across the globe
image © designboom

lollipops made from chinese rainbow onyx and italian bianco statuario
image by the primary studio

by changing the scale of interaction, the pieces call greater attention to the complexity of stone
image © designboom

the installation was part of SingaPlural – the anchor event of the singapore design week
image © designboom

SingaPlural returns for a 4th edition from march 10 – 15, 2015 at 99 beach road to showcase the best design elements from the multi-faceted creative spectrum — advertising, architecture, urban planning, landscape architecture, as well as interior, furniture, graphic and fashion design. organized by the singapore furniture industries council (SFIC) since 2012, the name ‘SingaPlural’ is derived from a combination of the terms ‘singular’ and ‘plural’; and was conceived from the need to create a common platform to bridge designers with the industry. SingaPlural 2015 is the anchor event of the singapore design week and is held in conjunction with international furniture fair singapore 2015/32nd ASEAN furniture show, the décor show 2015 and hospitality 360º. SingaPlural celebrates design, in all its forms, functions, stories and inspirations.