Lebanese designer Richard Yasmine is back in the spotlight with AFTER AGO, a new collection of objects. “It is an ode to an arch, a tribute to a city, an elegy of lost souls, altogether converted to emotional fantasy objects, transmitting functionality however remaining timeless and sculptural”, explains Yasmine.
AFTER AGO is a hybrid collection inspired by the metaphorical Postmodernism/Memphis movement with a twist of graceful Art Deco lines assorted to monolithic sobriety of Brutalism. Richard Yasmine tries to promote exactly how the use of simple lines can create an endless array of constantly thoughtful and minimalist objects. It is handcrafted and painted using several materials such as foam, lightweight concrete plaster, acrylic and stone/clay. The series evokes prominent and bold transformative forms using different geometric procedures such as insert, intersection, extrusion and detract, these tools help the process of embracing the splendor of curves that generates a seat, a shelf , a table, a tray, a vase, etc. “The alternation between the black and white stripes on each side of the object translates a dramatic illusion of internal and spatial chaos, the color black is mysterious, it is associated with the unknown future, with the undesirable or sad past, while the white is considered the color of serenity and safety. Black traps space, while White opens up space. Black evokes sophistication, White communicates innocence and renewed beginnings. The objects induce emotional alteration of self, sad/happy, mad/sane, anxious/calm, death/life, hate/love… Just like the fascinating story of my city Beirut with its multiple lives and layers across centuries and yet after each disaster, it always rises from its ashes, aspiring to eternal life”, underlines the designer.
