• Review of Maison&Objet September ’08 – Part 2: Design and Materials

I’m just trying to “build an instant" - an interview with Mauricio Clavero

By Le Vin Chin

Mauricio Clavero’s LIONOR (LIght Of the NORth) lamp was one of the highlights of this September’s Maison&Objet in Paris. We were so impressed by this young designer’s multi-facetted (pun fully intended) work that we had to interview him! Naturally, he gave a great account of his perspectives on design …

Mauricio Clavero © Stanislas Kalimerov

Your work covers the spectrum, from high-end perfume bottles to street lighting, from trash cans to car interiors. Where’s the red line, the common thread that binds all these projects together?

Yes, it’s true, I’m working on a quite wide range of products and concepts. More than a red line or thread in my work, I’m just looking for more ways to learn more about this “life”. Every new project pushes me towards new boundaries. Maybe it’s too early to define my thread … wouldn’t you say?

Your work seems to emphasize the idea of finding ways to connect people: is this a fair interpretation?

Indeed. I’m connected to people; my creation is my way of communicating – with me, with them; to make people communicate with each other …

VIPP Tube map soap dispenser © hviidphotography

What's your design philosophy?  

I was born at a time when changes occur more quickly than ever before in human history. This velocity is a key point in my philosophy. Design and life are fused … it is impossible for me to dissociate these things. If I have to define my philosophy, “R.I.A.” (RESPONSIBLE INNOVATIVE ATTITUDE) is the best acronym to explain what I am and how I work.

What will the 21^st Century bring to design?

The 21^st Century is bringing us a lot of challenges. Not just to designers; everyone is concerned. We’re living in an era where we must be very innovative in all areas, maybe we have even to be iconoclasts … We cannot always reproduce the same things from the past: lifestyle has changed, vintage sounds good, but … come on …!!!

What will we keep from previous eras?

The power of simple creation and beautiful moments in memory, nothing else.

The LIONOR lamp at the Swarovski stand at Maison&Objet

Where do you get your design inspiration from?

My inspirations come from a strange and exuberant cross-over between my roots (South American aboriginal people, Polish, French, British and Spanish) and simple, wild and sophisticated urban life.

You seem to work a lot with glass, with Swarovski crystal, with acrylic and with soap bubbles. What is it about transparent / translucent materials that inspires you?

Again, simplicity, neatness, delicacy. Whether opaque, hard, soft, heavy or light materials, each one gives the project their best qualities. I have no preferences, but I want the best from them.

Does the project choose the material, or do you choose the medium / material first?

Free creation comes first, projects and materials are born afterwards.

Mauricio Clavero’s work for Swarovski for their installation at Designer’s Days 2007 © mauricio clavero

You also work a lot with light. How do you capture light in a design?

It would be very nice for me to capture light … I’m still trying, but light … flows, thank god! I’m just trying to “build an instant” using different materials as barriers. Sometimes it … speaks, it feels captive … then it is released.

How do you choose the colors you work with?

Every day has a color, so every project is colored according to the day in which my reflection begins, i.e.: Monday is green, Tuesday is red … Noooo, I’m kidding! For sure, each project has a specific color but there are no laws when you make a choice – you feel it or you don’t …

Which color most inspires you right now?

Every one of them!!!

Hippo-Air (just a bubble) © mauricio clavero

Although currently based in Paris, you have roots in Santiago de Chile. For which cultures / cities do you design?

Currently I’m designing for European, Middle Eastern and Asians brands and teaching in Chile.

Do you see a difference between local and global trends in design? What are the local trends? What are the global trends?

Many different trends are flowing, each in their own “micro world”. What is evident: everyone can feel the global trend which focuses on “raising conscience”, “SAVE the planet”, “energy”, “re-use”, “clean” … Though Paris always makes a difference in trends …

AUTONOMA urban lighting © mauricio clavero (Click on the image to see a larger version)

How did your collaborations with Swarovski – on the LIONOR lamp and the VIPP trash cans and containers, among others – come about?

It was GREAT!!! I really love to work with strong companies, which challenge me with exceptional and exciting projects. After every successful collaboration there are always surprises … You’ll see …

Tell us about your experiences exhibiting with VIPP at Le Grand Louvre!

Great memories from this exhibition … When VIPP came to me to give me a “carte blanche” it was a nice surprise, a perfect beginning.

VIPP exhibition at Le Grand Louvre © hviidphotography

I structured a project called “VIPP, a cosmic journey” and then many companies (from Italy, Austria, Sweden, France) were seduced by the concept and wanted to get involved in it. A lot of people and lot of energy were involved … I designed a special sound for this exhibition; an extremely white, soft and deep carpet; a bright self-illuminated curtain crossing this old building … all to create an UNIQUE SENSORIAL EXPERIENCE ...

Le Louvre was just the first step. Then the exhibition started to run across Europe until it got to the Kunst Indurtii Museet in Copenhagen.

What are you working on right now?

I’m on holidays.

Squalt motor boat. A collaboration with nac © squaltech

What's your dream future project?

To design a “work&live” skyscraper building system, placed in the most exotic and important metropolises worldwide.