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Arquette by Beplushave

Ilia Potemine is the principal of Beplushave, a design firm that has so far created a number of great pieces including the ARQ and Arquette. Here, Ilia shows us the creation of the Arquette, a lamp made of PVC pipes and wood.

I believe that everything has a soul. I am trying to give part of my soul to my objects. I think that every piece is a piece of artwork and it must contain part of the artist. That’s why I make all the items by myself.

The Arquette lamp is a smaller version of the ARQ, so the production processes are very similar.

I start with a big piece of rough wood, I take all the necessary measurements and I take it to the right thickness. I never care that much of the measurements because I like the idea of my pieces being different from each other. I don’t believe in big industry production associated to design, I think design — a word that I rarely use — is a form of expression and art.

Let’s get on with the deconstruction. Once the piece is cut, I make all the necessary holes for the pipe and the electric cable. Then the Arquette goes under the sanding machine. I never use fine sanding paper because I want the bases to be really rough and raw.

This process makes the wood cracked and so, every base will be different. I love the small holes and the cracks because the create a certain asymmetry which is the base of the Beplushave concept. I don’t like symmetric stuff, I think that symmetry is really boring and cheap. I like to say that asymmetry is the real symmetry.

Then I make the switch. This is the hardest part of all the work, it has to be made in a precise way otherwise it won’t work. I make three different holes on the base and then two on the button.

The switch is complete!

After that comes the most exciting part: the painting session. I love spray painting things. I mix the paints, which are all water based (I try to use materials that help keep the world clean). The pipe is sprayed two times, once for the base coats and once with a finishing coat. I use white tones because white is essential and pure.

When the paint is dry, it’s time for the assembly. It’s a nice part too; seeing your ideas come to fruition is the best satisfaction ever.

This Arquette went to the photographer.

I want to thank my photographer Andrea Vanzino; he’s a really cool dude. And Renner wood coatings and Denni Bonini for supporting me all the time, as well as Falegnameria Damigi for allowing me to use their machines and instruments.

Jaime Derringer, Founder + Executive Editor of Design Milk, is a Jersey girl living in SoCal. She dreams about funky, artistic jewelry + having enough free time to enjoy some of her favorite things—running, reading, making music, and drawing.