A site-specific installation by Draga & Aurel explores memory and experimentation
Draga & Aurel x COLLECTIONAL marks the debut of the Italian duo at Downtown Design in Dubai, presenting a site-specific installation that encapsulates their multidisciplinary vision. Represented in the GCC by the contemporary design platform COLLECTIONAL, the duo introduces a poetic intersection between experimentation and memory, where material research becomes both language and reflection.
Founded in 2007 by Draga Obradovic and Aurel K. Basedow, the Como-based studio has developed an identity rooted in the union of art, design, and craftsmanship. Each piece carries a narrative essence, shaped through tactile precision and the expressive transformation of materials. In Dubai, their work translates into a dialogue of transparency and tactility, where the physical and emotional weight of materials finds a rare equilibrium.
The project evolves from two defining series: Transparency Matters and Heritage. The first investigates the interplay of resin and concrete, where light passes through density, revealing shifting depths and unexpected hues. The second reinterprets mid-century furniture—from the 1950s to the 1980s—through contemporary gestures, reviving the past with meticulous artisanal techniques. Together, these collections trace a trajectory that unites the sensory past with a modern sensitivity for sustainability and process.
Among the new works introduced are Soffio, a collection of floor and suspension lamps inspired by the delicate art of Murano glassblowing, where air becomes a sculptural element; Rescue Me, an evolution of upcycling, in which fragments of previous creations find new identity through layers of resin; and the sculptural tables Cava and Lava, alongside the console Stendhal, where mass and levity coexist in a dynamic state of tension. Each piece embodies the studio’s pursuit of emotional resonance through formal balance and material authenticity.
The installation is enriched by a painting from Aurel K. Basedow, whose gestural, layered compositions mirror the same rhythm of creation found in the studio’s material works. The visual language of his painting extends into the spatial context, creating a cohesive environment where light, texture, and memory interact.
In this debut, Draga & Aurel reaffirm a philosophy that transcends temporal boundaries. Their practice navigates between memory and innovation, shaping works that are both intimate and visionary. As they state, “It is in the dialogue between future and memory that our creative path continues to take shape,” a sentiment that resonates throughout their Dubai presentation—a meeting of craft, emotion, and timeless design consciousness.
All images credit: Draga & Aurel
