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Circuits from Kim Thomé
In Thomé’s studio-workshop in Margate, as a designer-maker, he is surrounded by tools and an array of experiments on the go, and sketchbooks full, ready to pluck out one for the right project when it arises. For this project, the spark of the idea came from the inner workings of a plug, which opened the world of circuit boards in the designer’s mind. The Norwegian designer was drawn to the primary colours of components and technically drawn diagrams, which he then took as a starting point for his design concept, from which the Christopher Farr design team then translated into instructions into weave. Care was taken to mimic and translate his pen lines into instructions for the loom, to give the presence of the human hand, as opposed the rigid perfection of machine made rug; from hand-drawn design to handmade rug.
From our previous collaboration with Thomé for Wallpaper* Handmade for the Milan Salone del Mobile, the designer understood the basic premise for weave and dyeing.
For Thomé, colour is always present and often central to his works. Here, for Circuits, the ground of undyed natural wool provides a neutral base for the circuit elements to pop. Circuits is made to order, with custom rug options available – whether simply size, or through to material blend to suit the specifics of your interior design project – here, produced in hand knotted, hand spun wool. Always in natural materials. Each and every stage of the rug production process is independently audited by Christopher Farr’s fair trade partner Label STEP.
Originally trained as a graphic designer in Oslo, he came to study furniture design at the RCA in 2006 and has continued his practice in the UK since then. His work ranges from product development to major architectural installations, characterised by the use of graphic elements, optical play, geometry and colour. Thomé has worked on major commissions with the likes of Wallpaper*, Bloomberg, and Swarovski – for whom he created ‘Zotem’, a monumental 18m column of crystals installed in the V&A’s entrance hall.
Thomé’s practice has been inspired by the works of op-art and British abstract artist Bridget Riley – see current exhibition at the Turner Contemporary ‘Learning to See’ – her powerful use of colour and merging of graphic language into 3D. Also, Leandro Erich, Argentinian artist, who uses optical illusions and architectural interventions to change viewers’ perception of reality.
Lifestyle photography: Christopher Horwood
Portrait photography: Kat Green