Incollect Magazine - Issue 11

28 www.incollect.com carved wood forms made of bleached ash or shou sugi ban ash (an ancient Japanese finishing technique that preserves wood by charring it with fire), with fluidly carved marble tops mirroring the base. The pieces look like they are melting before your eyes. Haase’s big breakthrough as a designer began in 2015 with his custom light sculptures, chiefly pendants and sconces. Merrill accurately describes them as “referencing various natural forms such as antlers, stalactites, cliffsides or ocean waves,” though the inspiration for the series was a bit more prosaic: Haase had taken an unfinished chandelier design to Merrill for review but it broke, revealing a single interesting-looking piece that the two of them decided would make an unusual sconce. They were right. The resulting Sculptural Sconce features an elegantly elongated asymmetrical “butterfly” shape that gained attention from design critics, designers and collectors, and the gallery was inundated with commissions. Today it has morphed into multiple light formats and is available in custom shapes, sizes and in woods, stones and metal, including walnut, bleached ash, and cast bronze. “The extraordinary thing about Haase’s lighting is the way he uses stone to diffuse light, which is unique to his work,” Merrill says. He partly attributes this to Haase’s understanding of advances in LED lighting. Haase has continued innovating with lighting and his latest groups of sculptural lighting, the Cloud Series and the Circlet Series extend his embrace of advancements in LED lighting and combination of metal and sculptured stone. “With a strong focus on asymmetry, Haase is now creating faceted light structures that catch and reflect light while seeming to defy gravity with a surprising weightlessness. His unique lighting designs begin with a hand-carved foam model, which is then cast in his studio, using a self-developed technique. Stone — onyx or alabaster — is handcarved with undulating lines mimicking the bronze “setting” of the work while diffusing dimmable LEDs,” Merrill explains. Clients love the new lighting designs, making him one of the most in-demand makers in the custom lighting market right now. One of Haase’s monumental Cloud Series, “Stratus”, was commissioned for The Cortland, a new waterfront condominium project located at 555 West 22nd Street in New York designed by the esteemed firms Robert A.M. Stern Architects and Olson Kundig. The nearly 30-foot-long by 8-foot-wide bronze, onyx and LED suspended sculpture fills the upper atmosphere of the double-height lobby, imbuing the space with a sense of drama and grandeur. Designer Holly Hunt, has also worked with Haase and has nothing but praise for the artist. “My team and I at House of Hunt enjoy working with Markus Haase through Todd Merrill. Recently we purchased two custom Circlet light fixtures in cast bronze and onyx, with a very tight deadline. Amazingly, these fixtures were delivered on time while maintaining quality craftsmanship and obviously excellent client service. Installing these rather complex beautiful sculptures hanging in the air turned out to be easy, thanks to their team’s clear documentation and guidance. These stunning light fixtures were integrated seamlessly into the home.” Markus Haase in his studio in Hanover, Germany with his studio manager. Courtesy of Todd Merrill Studio left and above: Markus Haase at work in his studio. Courtesy of Todd Merrill Studio