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April 11, 2021

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A Rubik’s Cube in every room

Source: Shanghai Daily | 00:05 UTC+8 April 11, 2021 | Print Edition

WHO is he?

Ini Archibong was born in Pasadena, California, to a family of Nigerian-American heritage. He grew up in a very visual culture, which combined the bold colors of West Africa with the golden reflective landscapes of Southern California, a theme that still inspires him today. Archibong studied at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, after which he ventured into the professional realm of design at Tim Kobe’s Eight Inc., in Singapore. Following this, he pursued a masters’ degree at the Lausanne Cantonal School of Art, where he is now a visiting professor. Currently based in Neuchatel, Switzerland, Archibong is also a designer collaborating with Se Collections, the European design brand represented by House of Wang in Beijing.

Tell us some of your works, and name the one you are most proud of.

A recently completed project of mine that I am very proud of is the Kadamba Gate bench and table. It was presented to me and nine other international designers as a challenge by the American Hardwood Export Council, Benchmark Furniture and the London Design Museum, who were looking for the creation of a new table and seating which suits the new way we work and live from home. Taking inspiration from the hexagonal columns of basalt rock that make up the The Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland, I created the Kadamba Gate, which was showcased during this year’s London Design Festival. The project features a mix of materials, irregular scrap pieces of wood, glossy resin, brass details and leather elements, which illustrate the situation we find ourselves in as a result of the pandemic. I am equally proud of all my work though, and I couldn’t choose one creation over the others.

What projects are you currently involved in?

I am very busy with a wide range of projects. One of the things I am currently working on is the Pavilion of the African Diaspora, which will be unveiled at next summer’s London Design Biennale. The concept is based on the conch shell, which symbolically summons the African diaspora who no longer resides within the continent, and more generally, people around the globe who have been displaced from their homes. The pavilion is to be a place of reflection, contemplation and conviviality with audio-visual components, giving the diaspora a voice on an international platform. I am also working on a solo installation for the Friedman Benda Gallery, which is to be unveiled soon.

What’s your design style.

My design style is totally unique. It is a reflection of the amalgamation of experiences I have had in life and every moment I have lived that has brought me to where I am today. My designs are rooted in a sense of individuality. When I started on the path to be creative, it was based on the understanding that business-wise this was the most business-smart decision that I could make, to lean into a core offering that was unique, that I could own myself, and that nobody could ever take away from me.

Where are you most creative?

I don’t anchor creativity to a specific location. Rather, I have found that spending time in different cities around the world is my greatest source of creativity. Absorbing the cultural, experiential, historical and linguistic nuances that make up the fibre of humanity across the globe is my greatest inspiration.

What does your home mean to you?

My home is a quiet refuge where my creativity can unfold. It is where I feel most at peace, both with myself and with the world around me. I keep objects that inspire me in every room. For instance, there’s at least one Rubik’s Cube in every room. If I see an interesting colorway or design I’ll get it — I have traditional, but also grayscale, camouflage and white. A Rubik’s cube is something I constantly do when I am thinking. They keep my hands engaged and my brain sharp.

What do you collect?

Rubik’s Cubes.

What will be the next big design trend?

I don’t pay much attention to trends.

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