ephemerā kinetic table installation by mischer'traxler for perrier-jouet at design miami/

ephemerā kinetic table installation by mischer’traxler for perrier-jouet at design miami/
image © designboom

motivated to actualize ‘a conversation between mankind and nature’, the viennese studio of mischer’traxler have conceived a series of delicate and interactive spatial installations for design miami/ 2014, played out as a mechanical ornamental landscape. french boutique champagne producer perrier-jouët continues to bring its art nouveau heritage to life with their commission of ‘ephemerā’, which serves as an artistic investigation and union of traditional craftsmanship, modern technology and the ephemerality of nature. ‘the momentum created by humans attraction to the ungraspable and untouchable, and needing to go there even though we know it will disappear is what we want to explore’, designers katharina mischer and thomas traxler describe.

‘ephemerā’ comprises a room with a large oak table and two mirrors. at the center of the space, a wooden surface comes alive with a landscape of vibrantly colored metal plants and insects that represent current, extinct and rediscovered species. ‘the species featured in the furniture pieces signify biodiversity, past and present’, they continue. ‘should the viewer wish, they can learn more about the species chosen, and why they are selected. in the whole installation nine plant-types and four different insect types are shown. together the selected plants and insects form a collection of species that will never co-exist next to each other in reality but they do represent a cycle of life.’

embodying the dynamic relationship between nature and mankind, the complex collection of botanical motifs rise up from the table and move to their own choreography when seen from afar. however when someone comes close — and the plants sense they are being watched — the garden disappears, hides and folds back into the table. on the surrounding mirrors, digital leaves grow across the reflective paneling extending into 3-dimenstional forms as long as the observer is not too close; otherwise they retract, leaving just a normal mirrored surface.

‘the most astonishing thing about nature is that everything is interconnected and harmonious’, mischer’traxler describe. ‘every aspect of a living creature has a raison d’être, working together in an endless cycle of dialogue and correlation.’

the complex collection of botanical motifs rise up from the table and move to their own choreography
image by gesi schilling / courtesy of perrier-jouët

the elegant forms conceal a complexity of sophisticated design technologies, melding advanced digital systems with traditional craftsmanship. all of the pieces have been hand-made and assembled in the mischer’traxler workshop in vienna. ‘each part of the installation needed many steps. from carpentry and manual mechanical work, to contemporary production-methods like water-jet and laser cutting, we combined old and new techniques. custom made pieces were developed for the kinetic mechanics and for the hidden motors.’

‘ephemerā’ marks the starting point of ‘small discoveries’, an extended project between the designers and perrier-jouët that will run throughout the next year whose aim is to tell the story of the magical dialogue between human and nature.

mischer’traxler investigate their ‘ephemerā’ tabletop
image by gesi schilling / courtesy of perrier-jouët

this collaboration marks the third consecutive year that the boutique champagne producer has sought out emerging creatives for original commissions to be shown at design miami/. last year, dutch designer simon heijdens suspended a series of hand-blown glass vessels, part filled with a pink-hued transparent liquid, for his installation ‘no.1-9’. 2012’s collaboration has seen the london-based studio glithero form architectural models composed of numerous weighted strings that draped from the ceiling. each piece serves as a continuation of the brand’s support of young designers, and exemplify perrier-jouët’s belief in infusing art in the everyday experience.

the wooden surface comes alive with a landscape of vibrantly colored metal plants
image by gesi schilling / courtesy of perrier-jouët

details of the floral motifs inlaid on the tabletop
images courtesy of perrier-jouët

portrait of thomas traxler and katharina mischer of mischer’traxler
image © designboom

the collection of vibrantly colored metal plants and insects represent current, extinct and rediscovered species
image courtesy of perrier-jouët

the elegant forms conceal a complexity of sophisticated design technologies
images courtesy of perrier-jouët

in the viennese workshop, advanced digital systems have been united with traditional craftsmanship
images courtesy of perrier-jouët