In Residence: Kelly Wearstler
by NOWNESSMar 28, 2020
by NOWNESS Published on : Feb 20, 2020
Like a fossil embedded in stone, the art of internationally renowned sculptor and designer Michele Oka Doner is imprinted into the fabric of her SoHo loft home.
Instead of walls, Oka Doner’s elegant studio apartment is shaped by the flotsam and jetsam of conch shells and minerals, separating the kitchen from the lounge, and dried bark and petrified tree roots that divide the piano from the dining table.
The Miami Beach native opens her home, where we see gold, bronze, clay, wood, wax and paper—the earth’s raw materials—which form the foundation of her art.
Oka Doner’s work ebbs and flows between the handmade and the organic, inspired by world histories and folklore. “The sheer breadth of her interests and influences made for one of the most fascinating conversations of my career,” says episode director Max Hemmings. “She makes such remarkable connections—everything from Herbert Read to Ötzi the Iceman—as if drawing on a whole library at will.”
Naturally occurring shapes and patterns are a key theme in Oka Doner’s work, the best example being A Walk On The Beach, a one-mile stretch of tropical seeds and 9,000 unique aquatic bronzes embedded into a terrazzo floor in Miami International Airport. The designer’s many projects also decorate her sizeable apartment. On the far wall is an enormous ink drawing of mother-of-pearl under a microscope. Hanging near the entrance is Soul Catchers, a 450-piece collection of glazed porcelain skulls that have the appearance of being eroded away by ocean currents. Just like her home, Oka Doner’s enduring 40-year career is an homage to the planet’s natural resources.
Next up, In Residence: Gawie and Gwen Fagan
To see more episodes from the series ‘In Residence’, click here.
For more details, visit www.nowness.com
by Jincy Iype Jan 16, 2021
Sashimi on a cloud and a coronavirus-shaped convict ball chain – Navarro believes that his amusing, manipulated graphics shouldn’t be taken too seriously – or maybe they should?
by STIRworld Jan 15, 2021
Zaha Hadid Architects wins competition to build Tower C at Shenzhen Bay Super Headquarters Base, imagined as two towers linked at the base by layered green terraces.
by Zohra Khan Jan 14, 2021
Avoiding the uniformness and rigidity of A frame structures, the Iranian practice envisions a small contemporary home in the forested region of Iran.
by Richa Arora Jan 08, 2021
Journeying through the sun-lit corridors of IIM Ahmedabad, photographer Richa Arora in her first-person account through images and words, describes light as a symbol of life itself.
get regular updates SIGN UP
Don't have an account?
Sign UpAlready signed up?
LoginPlease select your profession for an enhanced experience.
Tap on things that interests you.
Select the Conversation Category you would like to watch
Please enter your details and click submit.
Comments