As well as showcasing the work of established designers, the Maison & Objet interior design and decoration trade fair also shines the spotlight on upcoming talents. The fall 2018 edition (September 7 to 11), held at the French capital's Paris Nord Villepinte exhibition center, is celebrating young designers from Lebanon. Here's a close-up of these up-and-coming designers
Tatler Asia
Above Carlo Massoud
Tatler Asia
Above "Autopsy Gold" by Carlo Massoud, Rising Talent at Maison & Objet, September 2018; Image: Courtesy of Carlo Massoud

What is your favorite material and why?

CM When I work on a specific project every material gives me joy. In general I like materials that take shape with fire (such as ceramic, glass, melted metals like bronze, brass, ...) Each one has its challenges and specificities. Each time that I seek to push the limits of the material it results in a new discovery.

 

Tatler Asia
Above "Mar Mikhayel" by Carlo Massoud, Rising Talent at Maison & Objet, September 2018; Image: Courtesy of Filippo Bamberghi/Carlo Massoud

Can you describe your project for this event in a few words?

CM For M&O 2018, I decided to work on 3 different projects: 

I undertook a collaboration with blind people who work with wicker. The main challenge was to work on a steel chair and experiment with the process.

The second one is a series of table sculptures, 19 in all, in carrara marble, into which I incorporated some references to famous architects 

The third is a series of candle holders in bead-blasted stainless steel and marble.

(Related: Here’s The Secret To Making Marble Bendable)

Tatler Asia
Above Paola Sakr
Tatler Asia
Above "Morning Ritual" by Paola Sakr, Rising Talent at Maison & Objet, September 2018; Image: Courtesy of Antoine RS / Paola Sakr

What is your favorite material and why?

PS As someone whose main focus is experimenting with material innovation and blending materials together, I can never choose just one. What interests me is creating dialogues between materials with very different identities in terms of visual feeling and also manufacturing processes. Since for me it's phases of interest, I can say that I have a newfound love for stone and ceramics for their rawness, as well as textile for versatility.

Tatler Asia
Above "Impermanence" by Paola Sakr, Rising Talent at Maison & Objet, September 2018; Image: Courtesy of Carl Halal/Paola Sakr

Who is your favorite designer and why?

PS I have great admiration for Japanese designers such as (but not limited to) Naoto Fukasawa, Nendo, and Kenya Hara, for their unbeatable minimalistic visions and perfect execution of projects.

Can you describe your project for M&O in a few words?

PS I will be exhibiting my two projects, Morning Ritual and Impermanence, as well as a new collection I'm working on for the show, which will be the result of my very first encounter and experimentations with ceramics.

(Related: This Local Design Firm Creates Compelling Collages Out Of Laminates)

Tatler Asia
Above Marc Dibeh

What is your first memory linked to design?

Marc Dibeh (MD) My first memory linked to design could be the first time that I wondered about everyday products and who was behind them. 

What is your favorite material and why?

MD I am interested—and also intrigued and inspired—by all kinds of materials. Starting with my narrative of an object's coherence and/or its construction, the choice of material can be suggested by the object's form. However, sometimes exploring a project to its limits can also lead to seeing new possibilities in a material. Often I find that meeting with experts in different fields can lead to new ideas on this.

Tatler Asia
Above "Camille Cake Stand" by Marc Dibeh, Rising Talent at Maison & Objet, September 2018; Photo: Courtesy of Marco Pinarelli/Marc Dibeh

Who is your favorite designer and why?

MD That is a hard question to answer, there are so many.... I admire some of them for their mastery of spontaneous gesture, and others for their creative processes. The discipline has brought to light certain iconic figures, who are certainly influential though not uncontested. And real talents are emerging all of the time.

Tatler Asia
Above "Please Don't Tell Mom" by Marc Dibeh, Rising Talent at Maison & Objet, September 2018; Image: Courtesy of Marco Pinarelli/Marc Dibeh

Can you describe your project at M&O in a few words?

MD It will present several objects from different collections. Some of them belong to a series for Joy Mardini Design Gallery in Beirut and are the expression of well-crafted narratives that I will leave you to discover. The remaining objects, which have never before been exhibited, result from a desire to work with terrazzo and explore its multiple dimensions. Making choices also requires you to give up on other possibilities. I am hoping to inspire people to discover my other works and projects.

Tatler Asia
Above Anastasia Nysten

What is your first memory linked to design?

Anastasia Nysten (AN) I've always loved making things, decomposing objects, rebuilding them....I used to make miniature furniture when I was a child. I didn't quite think I would continue doing that later in life but it's just something I never gave up doing. Sketching and making mock-ups becomes an addiction.

Tatler Asia
Above "Snowflake" by Anastasia Nysten, Rising Talent at Maison & Objet, September 2018; Image: Courtesy of George Zouein/Anastasia Nysten

What is your favorite material and why?

AN I like natural materials, materials that age well like wood, metal, stone... I've always been fascinated by timeless objects and how the design has survived the test of time.

Who is your favorite designer and why?

AN My favorite period is Mid-century modern. It's a time when everyone was experimenting with materials, shapes, concepts...

Tatler Asia
Above "Troll Chair" by Anastasia Nysten, Rising Talent at Maison & Objet, September 2018; Photo: Courtesy of Elie Nohra/Anastasia Nysten

Can you describe your project for M&O in a few words?

AN I've developed a collection derived from the concept of the Troll Chair I created last September. The Troll Chair is an exercise of revisiting the composition of a seater, what we already know. It is somewhere between a bean bag and an armchair that I've decomposed and reassembled as to come up with a skeleton holding a fleshy pillow.

(Related: 10 Asian Artists On Instagram For Daily Design Inspiration)

Tatler Asia
Above Studio Caramel

What is your first memory linked to design?

Studio Caramel (SM) Our first memory would be the first conversation we ever had together in 2010. We recognized each other from school but weren't really acquainted with each other. Our conversation was about the reason why we decided to study interior architecture and to our surprise, we both had the exact same answer to the question. It is no surprise that we reconnected after all this time to found Studio Caramel together.

Tatler Asia
Above "Indolente Armchair" by Studio Caramel, Rising Talent at Maison & Objet, September 2018; Image: Courtesy of Aishti/Studio Caramel

What is your favorite material and why?

SC Wood would be our favorite material as we almost always use it in our designs. Surprisingly enough, we used this material very little in our new collection for the upcoming Maison & Objet.

Tatler Asia
Above "Mirage Music Box" by Studio Caramel, Rising Talent at Maison & Objet, September 2018; Image: Courtesy of Joy Mardini Design Gallery/Studio Caramel

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