Offshore: Jamie McLellan

Designer Jamie McLellan says “over the years I have learned to live with and celebrate my inner engineer. More and more I am finding the beauty of an object lies in its engineering, how it's put together. I find both a purity in exposing this and at the same time a higher a level of detail being possible without the need for anything superflous.”

McLellan’s abilities were first recognized in the early 2000’s with several outstanding design projects for the UK based design firm, Tom Dixon. In 2006 McLellan moved back home to New Zealand to develop an independent design studio with an international clientele.

McLellan says “the fact that half of my work is based outside of New Zealand is due not so much to a conscious choice, but due to necessity. Necessity not only to sustain myself as a designer with a slightly niche way of operating, but perhaps more importantly working offshore helps me to remain inspired and allows me to work on projects sometimes not possible within New Zealand's shores.”

McLellan’s installation of pieces in the Objectspace Vault also contains some fragments from earlier in his professional career. The Spin Candelabra and the Cage Light for instance were designed whilst working as Senior Designer for Tom Dixon in the UK. The cast iron Lean Light was also designed for Tom Dixon, but from McLellan’s newly formed studio back in New Zealand.

McLellan says “The pieces on display really only show one part of my design practice, only one of my split personalities as a designer. Despite this, they nevertheless exhibit many of the qualities I try to infuse in anything I design, from a bicycle to a piece of furniture.”

What: Offshore: Jamie McLellan

Where: Objectspace, 8 Ponsonby Rd, Auckland.

When: Exhibition runs until 19 December 2009.

Gallery hours: Tues – Sat, 10am – 5pm. Free admission.

Image: Twig coat stand photograph courtesy of Flash Studios.