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What's the use of useless furniture?
Architect by training, interior designer, fashion and art director, Karin Garcia is definitely a creative machine when it comes to furniture design. Her passion is to combine old or discarded tables, chairs, shelving units, and transform them into brilliant and unexpected works of art.
Textures, colors, and patterns glow in her mind as she turns a wooden chaise purchased in a thrift store, into a long coffee table with painted designs of Latin American textiles, making a fusion that brings a vibrant new life to an old piece of furniture.
From concept to completion.
Although Karin has worked largely with wood and metal, she leaps into a new world of furniture design by creating original patterns that can be virtually applied to any surface in any modern or classic interior.
“My artwork is based on the collage technique, transformed in scale, and applied to updated surfaces and materials in unconventional ways. My passion for textiles, contrasts of any kind is what inspires me to explore unexpected combinations and applications that can blend in any space. I consider my work to be Functional art as I incorporate image and patterns that enhance the functionality of furniture and objects.”
Karin, how are you?
I'm great, thank you...
Who are your architectural influences and why?
I'm very eclectic and I don't really focus on one creator but on different creations, obviously recognizing and appreciating the
masters. I like the Bauhouse Movement, the Modern Style and the Moroccan & Spanish Architecture as well.
Did you get the idea of renovating old items into modern furniture from your family back home? How did your family influence your work today?
My Family is originally from Europe, definitely that is an important influence in my admiration for older civilizations and the respect they have in keeping their heritage & constructions as they where instead of tearing them to do new buildings. I was born in Argentina, a younger country, which is Latin America but still filled with european immigrants. I believe in progress and evolution with respect.
How long is the process of transforming and old furniture into a new original piece?
The longer process is the creative"thought" process, defining what will work the best for that piece. The "production" process is not long. However, working with old pieces is the way I begun in this media, after several years doing that, the sales expanded and finding many good pieces was not easy, so since the last 3 years I begun to produce my own pieces.
Do you base your designs and artwork around whatever is going on the market? How do you keep your art fresh and update at all times?
This question kind of answers the above one. I'm basically an innate and constant "idea" generator person. Is not that I think to update, ideas come to me all the time, just by casual events or may be looking at some form that has nothing to do with furniture that may give me an idea to translate to it. This doesn't mean all of them succeed, but some of them do.
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Your new artwork is now based on the collage of digital patterns, modernized styles, using materials like resin, wood and acrylic.
Were you looking for a totally different theme and style?
The Collage was always the basis of my work, I did it at first by hand and gluing the papers. The news is that now I do the same designs but in the computer. This then translates to a digital prints instead of the glue and papers. As I mentioned before, business expanded and the quantity I could make was limited upon what I could do by my self. I love what I do, but it was taking 100% of my time, so I knew I should look for new production ways to do what I like but at the same time, have more time for my life and family, and more time to research new products as well.
Some kind of an emotional outburst? Not at that time..lol
Were you trying to brake away from your prior design styles?
I wasn't trying to do that at all, in fact the base is still the same, the production mode was what changed and new materials added, such as the Acrylic. I believe it was just part of an artistic, professional and personal evolution.
You have a passion for textiles. Have you created your own textile patterns?
I LOVE textiles, their color and textures and how much presence they add to spaces and clothes. Yes, I did translated some of my patterns to textiles but it is not that easy. There are many different qualities and range of fabrics, printing processes and minimum quantities.
Do you have any original fashion design of yours or any garment style ideas in mind that you would like to share with us?
My Mom is a very avant garde woman in many ways, I got that from her. I'm selective of what I buy, In a sense that I look for certain styles, that take out, who I am inside. Great clothes are generally expensive, so I've learned to buy extremely good at thrift stores.
Everybody always ask me where I got "Those" pieces! like to focus in the combinations. You can buy good, but if you mix them wrong then it looks bad.
Have you ever incursion into the Fashion world?
Yes, prior to what I do now I had a women fashion store where I carried different reknown labels, including my own. After that and once I moved to Miami, I worked for five years in the Film and Advertising Industry Styling and doing Art Direction.
When do you feel most free creatively?
When I work without limitations. Sometimes I have to work within very special guidelines according to Designers or clients. Nevertheless this shortens the creative palette but at the same time increases it in the way that you have to be more creative within less space to move.
Recently you are spending time in Argentina with your family. Are you getting new ideas from home? From your town?
Yess! I'm like a sponge, I absorb a lot when I travel. I live in Miami, and being now in Argentina in the winter, everything is a bit more grey, looks more melancholic,..more Tango! But everything has a sunny side and there is a lot of creativity down here.
What's next? Where are you exhibiting your recent artwork?
My last one was before leaving to Argentina. I was invited to exhibit at "Art on 50" at the 50th floor at the Icon building in Brickell Ave. 12 Miami based artist where invited to exhibit there, one each week. Next, I'll be opening a showroom in New York, and hopefully introducing some of my pieces in The Mondrian Hotel over there. I did that already in The Mondrian Hotel in L.A. and at The Ritz Carlton Presidential suite in Palm Beach. I'm also working wright now on two walls for The Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships.
Are you having a show soon here in Miami?
Not for now, but I have a permanent showroom, NIBA, in the Design District. I'm working to exhibit soon in Buenos Aires.
Thank you Karin for your contribution to the arts! We hope to see you soon here in Miami! Coming soon...
Thank you for your interest in my work!
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