Darren Oates
Darren Oates Fine Furniture - Tables, Sculptures
I am pragmatic, though not utilitarian, in my approach to furniture design. I consider both form and function to be vital. I don’t see any point in investing the amount of time it takes in making a piece if it can’t be used by its new owners, though at the same time I recognise that form has to come into play or the piece won’t attract a buyer in the first place. I believe in traditional joinery, but am not a purist. If I can make an extremely strong joint using a jig or machine, then that is the path I will take.
People are purchasing my furniture because of its design, not because it has hand-cut dovetails. Responsible timber sourcing is also important to me. Most of my pieces are made from reclaimed Australian native timbers. These are trees that have been cut down to make way for developments. A lot of my furniture involves the use of curved elements, the majority of these being bent laminations.
I try to keep the lines of my furniture simple but also design pieces that will not blend into the background. In essence I am aiming to produce collectable antiques for the next century to come.