Draga & Aurel have introduced their Cadre sideboard, a dynamic work that explores the relationship between matter, light, and color.
“Color is never static; it exists in space and time.” Draga & Aurel
Cadre is inspired by the artistic research carried out by Bettina Bürkle, who examines the relationship between transparency and perception. In her work, translucent surfaces and overlapping colors create constantly evolving floating visual landscapes. Draga & Aurel have converted these studies into a collectible design object that is continuously transformed, bringing numerous color combinations to life.
Embellished with shades of green, the meticulous transparent Lucite structure creates surprising reflections and has shimmering depths. Draga & Aurel’s artistic experimentation emerges in the doors that slide on multiple levels: colored surfaces that overlap, producing ever different visual configurations. A simple gesture — sliding the panels — turns the entire sideboard into a new, shape-shifting, dynamic object. Cadre isn’t just a furnishing item; it’s a constantly evolving artwork.
Draga & Aurel
Established in 2007 by Draga Obradovic and Aurel K. Basedow, Draga & Aurel is a multidisciplinary studio and workshop for art, collectible design, and furnishing items. Armed with a diversified background in art, fashion, and craftsmanship, Draga & Aurel are widely known for combining original methods with an artistic approach to materials and composition. Pioneers in upcycling in the design sector, they began their journey by reinventing vintage furniture and objects in their own style and shaping the first Deshabillé and Heritage collections.
Their 2009 debut at Milan Design Week marked the beginning of significant partnerships with furniture companies, firstly Baxter and Wall&Deco, followed by new ones throughout the years, including Visionnaire and Gallotti&Radice, and more recently Poltrona Frau and Giorgetti. In 2019, the couple staggered the crowds at Milan Design Week with a new personal project: the Transparency Matters collection, which explores the use and the possibilities of transparency, always related to lights and colors phenomena.
From its launch, the studio has continued to develop the collection, gaining more popularity. Between art and design, Transparency Matters collectible design pieces find the perfect display in the most prestigious galleries, such as Rossana Orlandi Gallery, Nilufar Gallery and Todd Merrill Studio. Moreover, they often participate in art and design fairs. Their design production stands alongside the artistic output of Aurel K. Basedow, comprising powerful, evocative, and poetic works. At Draga & Aurel, art and design follow two parallel and complementary paths, in a continuous exchange that strengthens and sometimes inverts their meanings.
Photo Credits: Federica Lissoni and Riccardo Gasperoni