╳ Birds Of A Feather

╳ Birds of a Feather certainly do flock together. Nine (2010) RCA graduates have combined their creative and artistic genius to form the art and design collective Manifold. Individually, Manifold's activities span sculpture, installation, digital art, process-driven product design, drawing, research, teaching, collaboration and progressive approaches to age-old crafts such as glass-blowing, hand-built ceramics and enamel painting. Their diverse and often disparate practices have grown up alongside each other within the studios at the RCA and the shared knowledge and the power of the group are the pillars of Manifold's philosophy (and success).

╳ One familiar name you might recognise is Zachary Eastwood-Bloom whom we wrote about back in June 2010 soon after his graduation. Since that time Zachary has exhibited his sublime pieces in several exhibitions, the two most recent being Presence Absence, the inaugural exhibition at Kingsland Road Studios and Metamorphosis at the Royal British Society of Sculptors. Thread Count Lab predicted that he would make a ‘splash’ in the art world and he certainly has.

╳ An additional talent we recently discovered, amongst Manifold’s members, is Hanne Enemark who describes her work as exploring “incredibly versatile nature.” Ms Ennemark notes, “by working both with the glass in its soft flowing state and in its cold harden state I create forms and shapes that emphasise the purity and honesty of the material, celebrating its qualities.” Ms Ennemark’s work demonstrates simplicity through subtle shape and colour choices, and her pieces range from contemporary decorative objects to functional tableware. ‘Gold Spill’ and ‘Crystalized’ are two pieces which caught our eyes. Both superbly decadent yet practical, they could bring (a luxurious) utility to the table as well as working as individual collector’s items.

╳ Thread Count Lab wishes Zachary, Ms Ennemark and Manifold much continued success.

╳ Images (top to bottom)

Gold Spill

Hanne Enemark

Crystalized* 2

Hanne Enemark

Studio Manifold: before and after 

Members Hanne Enemark and Ellie Doney paint the entranceway