Backstage with
Artist / Designer
BEN ROUSSEAU
KNOWN FOR HIS WONDERFUL WORK THAT SEAMLESSLY BLENDS CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY WITH STUNNING AESTHETICS; TODAY WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF DELVING INTO THE CREATIVE PROCESS, EXPLORING THE INSPIRATIONS BEHIND HIS EXTRAORDINARY PROJECTS, AND DISCOVERING WHAT DRIVES HIS PASSION FOR PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES OF ART AND DESIGN. PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONVERSATION WITH BEN ROUSSEAU.
WHEN DID YOU DISCOVER YOUR PASSION FOR ART AND DESIGN?
I GREW UP IN THE UK’S OLDEST RECORDED TOWN, COLCHESTER AND AS A KID JUST DIDN’T VALUE MY HISTORIC SURROUNDINGS, ALL I WAS INTERESTED IN WAS HOW I COULD SHAPE THE FUTURE. I WAS OBSESSED WITH JAMES BOND FROM AN EARLY AGE, I LOVED THE SLICK FUTURISTIC INTERIORS OF THE BAD GUYS LAIRS, THE GADGETS, THE CARS, THE VEHICLES, THE GIRLS THE WHOLE PACKAGE – THE OTHER EARLY INFLUENCE FOR ME WAS STAR WARS AND BLADE RUNNER, THESE FILMS OF THE FUTURE WITH SLEEK SHINY INTERIORS AND MODERN DESIGN FELT AS FAR AWAY FROM COLCHESTER CASTLE AS POSSIBLE AND I KNEW I HAD FOUND MY CALLING. AT 11, MY DAD HAD A 1955 CHEVY HOT ROD WHICH WAS PRETTY RARE IN THE UK, I’D HELP FIX IT UP AND DO WORK ON IT AND SO I HAD A DESIRE TO DO SOMETHING CREATIVE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN VEHICLES AND MODERN BUILDINGS BUT WASN’T SURE WHAT IT WAS. MY MUM WAS AN ARTIST AND MY DAD WAS VERY PRACTICAL SO GOT THE GRACE AND FINESSE FROM MY MOTHER AND THE PRACTICAL ENGINEERING SIDE FROM MY DAD.
AFTER ART COLLEGE, I WENT ON TO STUDY FILM SPECIAL EFFECTS, MODEL MAKING AND SET DESIGN SO I COULD EXPERIMENT WITH DESIGNING AND BUILDING THESE FANTASTICAL FUTURISTIC SPACES AND PROPS. I REALIZED THAT THE WHOLE INDUSTRY WAS MOVING OUT OF THE PHYSICAL ART AND INTO COMPUTER GRAPHICS AT A TIME I JUST WANTED TO GET HANDS ON EXPERIENCE. I WAS DJ ‘ING AND PUTTING ON PARTIES AT MY UNIVERSITY, DESIGNING SMALL SCALE STAGE PRODUCTIONS, ETC. AND SPENDING A LOT OF TIME IN NIGHT CLUBS, I FELT THERE WAS A MEANS TO BRING A MORE HIGH TECH AND SLEEK DESIGN AESTHETIC TO THESE VENUES AND SO I CHANGED MY DIRECTION OF STUDY TO PRODUCT AND INDUSTRIAL DESIGN, LOOKING TO DESIGN MODERN FURNITURE AND INTERIORS FOR HOSPITALITY VENUES, SUCH AS NIGHT CLUBS, HOTELS, AND BARS, ETC. I GRADUATED IN 2001 AND SET UP MY DESIGN STUDIO IN LONDON WITH THE SOLE INTENTION OF MAKING THE VERY COOLEST MODERN ART, INTERIORS AND LUXURY PRODUCTS FOR THE VERY COOLEST VENUES AND COOLEST PEOPLE.
HOW WOULD YOU CHARACTERIZE YOUR ARTISTIC OR DESIGN STYLE, AND WHAT ELEMENTS RENDER IT UNIQUE OR DISTINCTIVE WITHIN YOUR FIELD?
I WOULD SAY THERE ARE HINTS OF MID CENTURY AS I LOVE THE STYLING OF BOTH VEHICLES AND INTERIORS FROM THE 50’60’70’S THAT SORT OF JETSONS VISION OF THE FUTURE, AND CERTAINLY MODERN AS I AM HEAVILY INFLUENCED BY SCI-FI FILMS, TECHNOLOGY AND THE FUTURE, WITH MY UNIQUE TWIST ON EVERYTHING BEING MY PASSION FOR LIGHTING DESIGN AND HOW THAT SHAPES EVERYTHING I CREATE , WHETHER THAT BEING A PIECE OF FURNITURE, A PIECE OF ART OR AN ENVIRONMENT, THEN I MIX THAT THAT WITH MY LOVE OF HIGH END VEHICLE OR AVIATION DESIGN, ENGINEERING AND STYLING. THE WAY LIGHT CAPTURES THE FORM OF THE PIECE OR THE TEXTURES I’M USING OR WHETHER IT AN OBVIOUS PIECE WITH LIGHTING AT IT’S CORE, EVERY PIECE HAS A VERY CALCULATED EFFECT THAT PLAYS BEAUTIFULLY BETWEEN LIGHT AND SHADOW.
SO A SHORT ANSWER WOULD BE I CREATE FUNCTIONAL ART OR COLLECTABLE DESIGN THAT GIVES A REWARDING EXPERIENCE AND FUNDAMENTALLY LIGHTS UP THE MIND WITH JOY AND POSITIVE ENERGY.
“EVERY PIECE HAS A VERY CALCULATED EFFECT THAT PLAYS BEAUTIFULLY BETWEEN LIGHT AND SHADOW“
COULD YOU PROVIDE EXAMPLES OF PROJECTS OR ARTWORKS THAT YOU PARTICULARLY ADMIRE? WHAT CHALLENGES DID YOU ENCOUNTER DURING THEIR CREATION, AND HOW DID YOU ADDRESS AND OVERCOME THESE OBSTACLES?
I THINK WITHOUT QUESTION MY TEMPUS COLLECTION OF ILLUMINATED TIMEPIECES IS MY MOST EXCITING BODY OF WORK, IT COMBINES EVERYTHING I STAND FOR WITH MY WORK THAT CELEBRATES THAT CORE DNA BETWEEN BEAUTIFUL MATERIALS IN A HIGHLY ENGINEERED FASHION THAT COMPLIMENT MY PASSION FOR CREATING WORK WITH LIGHT AND SHADOW.
TO START WITH THE EARLY TEMPUS EDITIONS USED QUITE BASIC ELECTRONICS BUT WERE TOO TIME CONSUMING TO PRODUCE OUTSIDE OF SINGULAR EDITIONS SO TO GIVE ME THE ABILITY TO SYSTEMISE THE BUILD PROCESS I HAD TO INVEST IN CREATING MY OWN CIRCUIT BOARDS AND DESIGN ALL COMPONENTS FROM SCRATCH THAT GAVE ME THE ABILITY TO STILL KEEP THINGS EXCITING CREATIVELY BUT ALLOWED ME TO COMMERCIALISE IT AS A COLLECTION AND OFFER SMALL RUN EDITIONS FOR COLLECTORS. I WAS KEEN TO HONOUR MY ROLE AS A DESIGNER IN THE MODERN AGE BY USING ALMOST ALL GLASS AND ALUMINIUM FOR THE PARTS SO THAT THEY CAN BE RECYCLED AFTER AND USE AS LITTLE VIRGIN MATERIAL AS POSSIBLE.
“MAKE SOMETHING THAT LEAVES PEOPLE WITH A MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE”
HOW DOES RESEARCH INFLUENCE AND SHAPE YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS? HOW DO YOU GATHER INSPIRATION AND INFORMATION PRIOR TO EMBARKING ON A NEW PROJECT?
FOR PERSONAL PROJECTS OR NEW COLLECTIONS I’M NOT LOOKING FOR A GAP IN THE MARKET AND TO FILL THAT, I CREATED THE TEMPUS COLLECTION AS A SPIN OFF FROM THE IRIS AND NEYEL LIGHT ART COLLECTIONS AS I’D DEFAULT TO USING 60 REPEATING FORMS WITH MY STATIC ILLUMINATED ARTWORKS AND THEN THE URGE TO CREATE A FUNCTIONAL TIMEPIECE BY ANIMATING THESE 60 PIECES MORPHED INTO THE TEMPUS COLLECTION. ITS NOT UNTIL I RESEARCHED AFTERWARDS WHAT ELSE IS ABOUT IN THE WORLD OF MODERN WALL CLOCKS THAT I SEE HOW INNOVATIVE IT ACTUALLY IS. NOW BECAUSE OF HOW BUSY I AM WITH LIFE AND CREATIVE WORK DO I VALUE HOW LITTLE TIME WE HAVE ON THIS EARTH AND HOW IMPORTANT OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH TIME IS. SO THE COLLECTION REALLY DOES ENCOURAGE US TO PAUSE AND ENJOY THE MOMENT. I HAVE THEM ALL OVER MY HOUSE AND I OFTEN JUST STOP AND STARE AND HAVE A FEW MINUTES JUST APPRECIATING THE TIME I HAVE AND THE GOOD ENERGY THEY GIVE.
IF I AM WORKING ON A COMMISSION FOR A CLIENT FOR EXAMPLE THEN CERTAINLY I RESEARCH THE VENUE, THE SURROUNDING AREA, WHAT HISTORICAL FACTS MAY TIE IN WELL WITH THE PIECE, WHAT THE EXPERIENCE NEEDS TO BE FOR THE USERS AND HOW I CAN MAKE SOMETHING THAT LEAVES PEOPLE WITH A MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE.
I LOVE TO USE PINTEREST – PLEASE FOLLOW ME THERE @BENROUSSEAU FOR GATHERING IDEAS AND INSPIRATION AS I GO BUT NOT TO ACTUALLY GIVE ME IDEAS, THEY COME WHEN I’M LYING IN BED JUST SWITCH OFF FROM WORK AND JUST SORT OF DREAMING ABOUT IF I WAS THE CUSTOMER WALKING THROUGH THEIR SPACE WHAT IS THE MOST ENGAGING AND UNIQUE EXPERIENCE I COULD GIVE THEM. THAT CAN BE A BIT OF A CURSE SOMETIMES BUT ITS HARD TO PREDICT WHEN IDEAS COME AND THEY ARE EASILY FORGOTTEN, SO DISTURBING MY WIFE TO GET UP AND DRAW AT THAT TIME NIGHT CAN GET ME INTO TROUBLE.
ALSO I MAY BE AT A CAR SHOW OR MOTORBIKE EVENT AND SEE A COOL NEW WHEEL DESIGN THAT LENDS ITSELF TO SOME SORT OF FORMATION DETAIL THAT I USE. HOTELS ARE A GREAT SOURCE OF INSPIRATION SO LOVE TO STAY IN NEW LOCATIONS AND EXPERIENCE THE FINE WORK OF OTHER GREAT CREATIVES. I’M A BIG INTERIORS AND ARCHITECTURE FAN TOO!
COULD YOU DISCUSS A NOTABLE COLLABORATION EXPERIENCE AND HOW IT CONTRIBUTED TO THE SUCCESS OF A PARTICULAR PROJECT?
I OWE A LOT OF MY EARLY INSPIRATION TO A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE JAI DREW, WHO SOME WOULD THINK IS A LIKE A MAD INVENTOR GUY, HE WOULD TAKE OLD MACHINES APART LIKE A PHOTOCOPIER THEN BUILD A LOVELY CARVED STORAGE BOX WITH MOTORISED FOLD OUT PARTS, TRULY BRILLIANT JUST VERY HARD TO COMMERCIALISE, HE INTRODUCED ME TO ELECTRONICS AND LED’S AND HOW I COULD MAKE MY OWN LIGHTING DESIGNS, SO WHEN WE GOT TO CREATE MY FIRST ART SUITE AT THE ICE HOTEL IN JUKKASJARVI, ARCTIC SWEDEN THAT WAS A LOVELY PROJECT TO SHARE AND TEST HOW OUR IDEAS WORKED IN THE ICE, CREATING A UNIQUE SPACE THAT PEOPLE COULD SLEEP IN. OUR SHARED HUNGER FOR JUST CREATING WILD DESIGNS FOR FUN WAS WHAT I MISS MOST ABOUT THE EARLY YEARS, EXPRESSION NOT HELD BACK BY RESTRICTIONS.
I’D LOVE TO SAY I HAVE TIME TO KEEP UP TO SPEED WITH THE WORLD, I OBVIOUSLY EXPERIMENT WITH CERTAIN NEW MAKING PROCESSES AND MATERIALS AND LOVE THE WORLD OF 3D PRINTING AND NEW SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS WE CAN PRINT WITH BUT IT’S SO HARD TO INVEST TIME IN THAT. GOING TO TRADE SHOWS AND SEEING WHAT PEOPLE ARE WORKING ON IS VERY INSPIRING AND LEARNING FROM FELLOW CREATIVES IS THE BIGGEST TRIGGER OF SOMETHING THEY SUGGEST I SHOULD LOOK INTO. THE WORLD OF AI IS MIND BLOWING BUT I ALSO WANT MY WORK TO HAVE A VERY PROMINENT PERSONAL CONNECTION FROM ME, SO I’D RATHER HAVE A FEW CLONES OF MYSELF.
HOW DO YOU HANDLE CREATIVE BLOCKS OR MOMENTS OF SELF-DOUBT IN YOUR WORK?
OF COURSE, THE MOMENT OF SELF-DOUBT REALLY KICK IN WHEN I’VE INVESTED IN SOME TOOLING OR LARGER SCALE WORK THAT I’M DEVELOPING MYSELF AND THEN I THINK WILL SOMEONE ACTUALLY WANT THIS? I SEE SO MUCH COOL WORK OUT THERE AND THINK WOW HOW DO I COMPARE TO THAT? BUT I THINK THE WORLD IS AN EXCITING PLACE AND THE BEAUTY IS EVERYONE HAS SUCH DIFFERENT TASTES SO THERE IS ROOM FOR EVERYONE TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES SO LONG AS THEY NOT DOING ANYTHING TO OFFEND ANYONE. CREATIVE BLOCKS JUST TEND TO HAPPENED WHEN I”M SUPER STRESSED AND A DIFFICULT DEADLINE IS ON THE TABLE AND NEEDS A QUICK SOLUTION CREATIVELY TO EITHER WIN A PROJECT AND SOMETIMES IT IS BEST TO JUST WALK AWAY FROM THAT AND FIND SOMETHING ELSE TO TAKE YOUR MIND OFF IT AND THEN LET THE CREATIVE ENERGY FLOW WHEN IT IS NATURALLY READY TO COME OUT. I TRY TO BE MUCH MORE CHOOSY ABOUT THE PROJECTS I TAKE ON AS I WANT TO ENJOY THE CREATIVE PROCESS NOT BE HELD TO RANSOM BY TOO MANY RESTRICTIONS, OBVIOUSLY THAT ISN’T ALWAYS POSSIBLE BUT I’VE BEEN DOING THIS LONG ENOUGH TO KNOW WHERE I AM COMFORTABLE AND WHERE I’LL DO MY BEST WORK.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY FOR THIS INSIGHTFUL CONVERSATION WITH THE REMARKABLE BEN ROUSSEAU. WE HOPE YOU’VE ENJOYED LEARNING ABOUT HIS INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO DESIGN, HIS CREATIVE INSPIRATIONS, AND THE FASCINATING PROJECTS THAT SHOWCASE HIS ARTISTIC TALENT. BEN’S WORK CONTINUES TO PUSH THE BOUNDARIES OF ART AND TECHNOLOGY, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT HE CREATES NEXT.