Restrained Aesthetic: Domestic Archetypes in Formation

Objects conceal a topography of meaning. Shaped not only by intention but by systems of production, histories of material extraction, and embedded ideologies, behind every design lies a chain of decisions. As Formafantasma articulates in their ongoing practice, design narratives are involved with ecological, political, and social forces that intersect.

In their latest series, Formation, currently exhibited at Friedman Benda in New York, Formafantasma revisits the familiar language of domestic archetypes with critical sensitivity. The use of cherry wood and aluminum sets a distinctive structural tone: cherry wood evokes the warmth, tradition, and dignity of artisanal craft, while aluminum introduces a contemporary, industrial aesthetic. In their assembly, the materials articulate a nuanced tension between heritage and innovation, the digital and the domestic, the historical and the speculative future.

This sensibility deepens with the introduction of textiles. Their sheer presence disrupts the strict formal rhythm, offering a tactile counterpoint that veils and shelters simultaneously. Historically tied to women’s labor, textiles become a political statement—an act of honoring and reclaiming the value of craftsmanship often overlooked in dominant narratives. This material choice acknowledges the intersection of gender, labor, and cultural memory embedded in everyday objects.

With both critical clarity and sculptural elegance, Formation reclaims the domestic sphere as a site of inquiry—one that interrogates the form and the process of formation itself. In doing so, design shifts beyond utilitarian function toward a future where objects are not simply used, or exhibited, but deeply understood, resonating with the histories and forces they represent.

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Images: Formation by Formafantasma, Photography by Marco Cappelletti Studio, Exhibited at Friedman Benda in New York from June to August, 2025.