Carsten in der Elst’s exhibition “Sourcing Stone” at Side Gallery celebrates the power of raw materials

For Carsten in der Elst’s exhibition “Sourcing Stone” at Side Gallery, the German-born furniture and object designer continues to explore his attitude towards material and proceeds to reflect his design philosophy into unique objects. Greywacke Sandstone, handpicked from a Lindlar quarry during the winter months of 2023 in West Germany, is the sole subject for the designer’s work. Reinterpreting the standardised use of Greywacke Sandstone in a collection of 22 raw chairs and tables, this is Carsten in der Elst’s most ambition collection yet.

Through this striking body of work, In der Elst shares his passionate desire to reshape our relationship with materials, urging us to consider the origins and manufacturing processes behind the mundane structures that surround us. The collection of twenty-two pieces epitomizes his commitment to enhance our awareness and appreciation of everyday objects, pushing us to question where they come from, how they are made and how they can be developed. Carsten in der Elst considers himself a servant of the material he uses: he lets the material guide him through the making process, instead of being subservient to an idea.

Image courtesy of Side Gallery