Laboratory: Explore hidden worlds of light, material and time at Solus Clerkenwell

This oft-quoted quatrain expresses the idea that the beauty, mystery, and totality of the miniature is characteristic of the whole. Laboratory, an installation from Holloway Li and Refin, invites us to consider the very small worlds in ordinary materials using special cameras set to high magnifications; to become “microcosmonauts” and explore wax, metal, and fresco in three bespoke experimental stations. 

Holloway Li were inspired by Refin’s laboratory, a space in which designers experiment with materials to unlock their hidden creative potential. Laboratory reimagines this space and its spirit of inquiry, and transports it to our Clerkenwell showroom.  

Alex Holloway, Creative Director and Co-Founder of Holloway Li, spoke to us about how Laboratory came to be: 

“We were invited by Solus to collaborate with Refin on this exciting ‘live’ artwork. Material alchemy is at the core of both Refin’s and Holloway Li’s creative process, taking everyday materials and transmuting them into unexpected states. Working with our collaborator software developer, Will Muir Llia, we designed three live experiments which reveal a wondrous hidden world on the surface of  raw materials used by Refin.  

“In an era saturated with digital post-production, we set ourselves a strict rule to generate these beautiful images purely via analogue methods, appearing at once microscopic and cosmic. For example, what appears at first glance to be a computer generated image of a retreating ice cap turns out to be a ‘live’ physical recording of melting wax under intense magnification.” 

Rino Bedogni, Head of Marketing and Communication at Refin, told us why Laboratory was important to Refin: 

“We believe that sharing the story of our laboratory is essential to fully appreciate the depth and detail of our collections. Our unique approach, based on research, experimentation, and photographic technique, is at the core of our creative process. We call it our ‘artisan heart’. Being able to tell this story and demonstrate how it affects the design of our tiles is challenging, as not everyone can visit our production site and our Design Tale Studio (DTS). 

“It was after experiencing the reactions of Solus and Holloway Li during a visit to our DTS that we decided to bring this experience to London. Holloway Li have created something not only effective, but also memorable and emotional.”