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Merging Matter
Elemental Tableware – A Fusion of Earth, Water, Fire, and Air
Merging Matter is a collaboration between maker-designers Natasja van der Meer and Marisa Klaster, united by their respect for handmade objects at the intersection of art and design. Their work explores the raw beauty of natural materials, emphasizing craftsmanship, sustainability, and storytelling.
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The Four Elements in Creation
For ROOTS Exhibition Milano 2025, Merging Matter presents a tableware collection embodying the essence of Earth, Water, Fire, and Air. Crafted from local clay and wood, each piece carries the signature of the land, shaped by natural forces. The contrast between rough, unrefined textures and smooth, polished surfaces reflects the balance between nature and human intervention.
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Earth as the foundation: The clay, sourced from Dutch landscapes, holds the memory of ancient soils. The wood, once rooted in the land, carries the energy of growth
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Water as the shaper: Clay surrenders to water, gaining the fluidity needed to take on new forms. Water enables trees to grow and develop their grain patterns
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Fire as the catalyst: Firing merges elements, clay hardens, glazes transform, and wood gains depth and resilience through controlled burning
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Air as the breath of life: Cooling, drying and curing invite air to complete the transformation, setting each object into its final form, ready to be touched and used
Alchemy at the Table
As part of The Last Supper: From a Different Perspective, Merging Matter redefines tableware as more than functional objects. This collection reconnects us with the elemental origins of materials and the cycle of nature. Each piece tells a story of transformation—the alchemy of earth to fire, from tree to table, from past to present.
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By merging the primal elements, this collection invites a deeper awareness of our connection to everyday objects. In an age of industrial uniformity, Merging Matter offers a return to authenticity—bringing the essence of the elements to the table. A reminder that the objects we use daily are shaped by nature’s continuous cycle, just as we are.
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