London

Adam Goodrum & Arthur Seigneur

A&A

Straw marquetry maker | Melbourne, Australia

The freedom to modernise a traditional craft

Adam and Arthur's favourite material is rye straw
The Bloom Cabinet is the first object they created together
Their philosophy is to never make the same piece twice

Adam Goodrum, an Australian designer, and Arthur Seigneur, a French straw marquetry artist, met in 2015, upon Arthur establishing his workshop in Sydney, near Adam’s studio. As their friendship grew, they collaborated on several projects before founding a new workshop together, Adam&Arthur, with the aim of modernising the 17th-century craft of straw marquetry. Their collaboration enhances each other’s creativity, resulting in pieces that blend European and Australian design in novel ways. "The synergy of our backgrounds results in contemporary pieces that revitalise the traditional technique of straw marquetry. Arthur’s traditional sensibility and my contemporary approach create a productive tension," explains Adam. By designing pieces with curves and surfaces that reflect light differently, the duo powerfully amplifies colour and pattern. Constantly challenging themselves, they strive to create works that have never been done before, keeping the craft alive and finding new expressions for an old technique.

Interview

Could you walk us through your creation process?: Adam: Our shared philosophy of pushing boundaries underpins both our practices. I conceive the initial design, and then we rigorously refine the concept together, resolving form, pattern, and colour. We make numerous scale models and continue to finesse the design during the construction phase, despite its time-consuming nature.
Is there a link between your work and the place where you live?: Straw marquetry is an ancient French art that is sometimes perceived as rigid and involving very strict rules and patterns. There is an expectation that the craft must be honoured, which can be stifling. Working in Australia where there is no historical connection to the craft, we have been able to step away from traditional constraints. This has allowed us to reinvent tradition while capturing the spirit of contemporary design, which is irreverent and forward-looking.
What kind of shapes, lines and and colours do you prefer?: Adam: The rye straw we use is imported from Burgundy, and hand-dyed by Arthur in subtly reflective custom hues. We test dye times to achieve the desired colour intensity. Colour influences behaviour, moods and thoughts. As Kandinsky said, “Colour provokes a psychic vibration.” We try to harness this power of colour in our work.
What message or meaning do you aspire to convey through your works?: Our exploration of sculptural forms and their intersection with straw marquetry blurs the lines between art, craftsmanship and design, creating something unexpected. This craft contrasts with today’s mass production, rebelling with its lengthy handmade process.

Adam Goodrum & Arthur Seigneur are rising stars: they began their career in 2018 and they started teaching in 2018