NUVIA

This cabinet began as an exploration of movement – how it can live within a solid form. I was fascinated by the idea that a static object could hold rhythm, that wood could capture something as light and intangible as air or smoke. The concept was first developed as a tribute to Amy Lau, who generously mentored me and inspired me to push this idea further.

The work draws inspiration from Ultima Thule, a large wooden wall sculpture by Finnish artist Tapio Wirkkala, created for Expo 67 in Montreal. Wirkkala carved into layers of birch plywood to reveal delicate lines hidden within the material itself. His approach to layering and rhythm in wood felt extraordinary to me – but I wanted to take it in my own direction.

Instead of using plywood, I made my own. Layer by layer, I built a new type of plywood from white oak, placing sheets of colored paper between each layer. This allowed me to control not only the pattern of lines but their movement and flow. The spectrum begins with deep blue, shifts through red and yellow, and ends in green and dark green. As the curved form bends and folds, these colors travel along the surface, creating a sense of continuous motion – like air swirling in space. The geometry of the cabinet reinforces that movement, echoing the soft curves of smoke caught in still air.