Inside the spellbinding world of furniture designer Boldizar Senteski
‘Functional art, collectable design’ is the catchphrase Hungarian artist and designer Boldizar Senteski likes to use to describe his work, which is apt given his focus on simplicity and permanence. ‘I aim to create timeless pieces characterised by simple gestures and a lack of embellishments, yet undeniably unconventional, transcending the ordinary,’ he explains. ‘My work merges traditional craftsmanship with progressive technologies and science, bringing together the ancient and the futuristic.’
Having spent his childhood in Budapest, Senteski repeatedly draws on the rich built environment of his native country for his work. ‘I tend to design robust sculptural pieces, but at the same time they have a delicate, decayed elegance to them that has a similarity to the rich architecture and contrasting elements that create the fabric of Budapest. It is a unique place that hasn’t been defined by many.’
Budapest’s urban landscape is not the only unifying thread in his oeuvre: you’d be hard pressed to find a contemporary artist who has such a preoccupation with mirrored materials. Each of his pieces (whether it be a lamp, a table or a console) explores, through reflection, the interplay between perception and ageing. ‘I’m drawn to mirrors because they are almost like material and antimaterial,’ he muses. ‘I have always been fascinated by human perception and interested in existential questions. When I talk about time passing and renewal, I find mirrored surfaces, reflections and eroded materials to be a great tool to express my intentions.’
This is best evidenced in his antique-looking, tarnished, discoloured mirrors – perfect for creating warped reflections and realities. Such pieces include the reflective ‘Void Mirror’, which he debuted with Galerie Philia at Milan Design Week 2023 and ‘Void Console’, a sculptural full-body mirror-cum-console with a cast-bronze base that he presented at PAD London last October.
Despite this success, Senteski is wary of seeing the past 12 months as a turning point; a mark of his humble disposition, perhaps. ‘I don’t think I can select a specific highlight from my career so far. I am just grateful that my work reaches people all around the world.’ @boldizar_senteski
