Swiss artist Natanel Gluska's eponymous bespoke furniture label might not yet possess the same level of brand awareness as do other more established lifestyle brands in Singapore, but it's really only a matter of time before his iconic pieces, an intriguing mix of living art and collectors' items taking their inspiration from "everyday life" (he once fashioned a lounge out of a single piece of log), seep into the consciousness of aficionados. After all, he's already had his work showcased worldwide, and counts luminaries such as Karl Lagerfeld, Donna Karan and Phillipe Starck amongst his clientele.
Natanel Gluska himself picks out three of his favourite works and gives us the low-down on his fascinating take on ordinary furniture.
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1. Crocodile Bench
Gluska gives the ferocious beast a makeover, carving out a luxurious organic bench that calls out aficionados to "see the hidden beauty of the crocodile". The surface of the crocodile bench is honed to perfection, and the piece is available in fibreglass or recycled Jarrah (a recycled timbre).
Price: Fibreglass (S$6,800) and Recycled Jarrah (S$17,000)
2. Long 8
The famed Long 8 is one of Gluska's signature works, a lounge chair fashioned from a single piece of log, with no other addition of other materials. "The beauty of the Long 8 is the preserved essence of the tree that it originates from, and how an art piece is shaped and formed through an intricate and laborious method where a piece of wood is transformemd into a purposeful function".
Price: S$8,800
3. The Majestic
70 pieces of preserved, recycled wood make up the impressive work that is, fittingly-named, The Majestic, "a hybrid of a one-off functional piece of artwork that not only respects its origin but emphasizes its beauty shed in a different light". Consists of both long table and stools made entirely of 400-year old recycled Jarrah wood from railway sleepers.
Price: S$48,000
Viewing of Natanel Gluska's pieces is by appointment only. Please email natanelgluskasingapore@gmail.com or info@natanelgluska.com to make an appointment.