Maria Tyakina explores glass and perception in sculptural furniture collection
Rotterdam-based designer Maria Tyakina continues her exploration of materiality with Between a Rock and a Hard Place, a compelling furniture collection where glass takes center stage. Building on her previous work with wood and marble, this new series shifts toward a narrative that embraces transparency, fluidity, and the subtle dance between visibility and absence. Collaborating with Van Dijken Glas, Tyakina brings to life a console, shelf, and side table that utilize an uncommon glass joinery technique, showcasing glass as both structure and ornament.
The collection is defined by curvilinear compositions made from 15mm-thick tempered glass, forming intersecting planes that seem to exist in a constant state of motion. From every angle, these pieces reveal new perspectives—shapes materialize and dissolve, creating visual layers that challenge the viewer’s sense of space. The use of glass introduces an elegant duality: fragile yet strong, transparent yet commanding. This inherent tension drives the design process, as Maria Tyakina refines structural techniques to elevate glass from a supporting material to a primary, load-bearing element.
Far from being static objects, the works in this collection engage their surroundings and their observers. As one moves around them, the objects shift in appearance—lines blur, reflections emerge, and absence becomes presence. It’s in this ephemeral interplay that Maria Tyakina’s vision comes to life, pushing the boundaries of how materials can shape not just form, but perception itself.
Her artistic practice consistently examines the relationships between form, function, and narrative. By blending traditional craft with contemporary experimentation, Tyakina invites a rethinking of how everyday objects interact with space and time. Each design is rooted in visual research, tactile exploration, and a commitment to working with materials that age with grace. Her work blurs the line between design and sculpture, between practicality and poetry.
All images by Elmer Driessen, with courtesy of Maria Tyakina, shared with permission
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