Ornamentum 3 by Orson Oxo Van Beek & Quinten Mestdagh - 2020

‘Ornamentum’ is the first collaboration between designer Orson van Beek and fashion designer Quinten Mestdagh. The work evolved out of research based on the history of ornamental art and furniture and how this has evolved through time and history. Both artists are fascinated by ornamental and decorative furniture and questioned why there is such an absence of this in contemporary design. The aim of Orson Van Beek and Quinten Mestdagh was to create new ornamental furniture which touches the boundaries between aesthetics and functionality. The typical historical aesthetics connected to baroque and rococo styles are translated into graphic symbols and icons which form the structure of the pieces. With this idea, they created a still life of three objects representing a chair, a table and a lamp. Orson Van Beeck and Quinten Mestdagh wanted to make the pieces of furniture so overly decorated untill a point that the actual piece of furniture becomes functionless and that it becomes an ornament on itself. ‘Ornamentum’ is a study and a reflection on how ornamental furniture has evolved over time, how it can be reinvented, and how it can find a place again in contemporary furniture design.