Elana Castle discovers the work of South African designer Gregor Jenkin.
February 20th, 2012
Gregor Jenkin is one of South Africa’s most prominent furniture designers. His thought-provoking pieces are both metaphorical and technically advanced.
Clockwatcher
“My furniture is often inspired by the industrial and urban landscapes that surround me. However, I am primarily interested in making things,” he explains.
Working from a strong engineering base, Jenkin manufactures all his pieces in his Cape Town-based workshop. “I often push the boundaries of materials, but I ensure that all the design components can be easily assembled into commercially viable pieces.”
Engrained
In 2005, Jenkin designed his most iconic product to date – The Cape Table – a cut steel design with a striking, colonially-inspired edge profile. The piece was bought by the Conran Shop and it soon became one of their best-sellers, catapulting his career onto the international stage.
Cape Table
Since then, Jenkin has been fulfilling prestigious local and international commissions, in addition to extending his portfolio. His studio was given a weighty boost at the end of last year when he was invited to participate in Design Miami, an international and highly curated marketplace for collectible design.
Under the auspices of distinguished South African gallery Southern Guild, Jenkin presented Migrant Migrate, fourteen pieces reflective of South Africa’s highly disenfranchised migrant labour population.
Migrant Migrate – individual piece designed to stand like a herd of wildebeest (24 in total)
“It was great to be exposed to such a wide and well-informed audience,” he says. In addition, Jenkin’s pieces were well received, with interest from exclusive gallerists and international buyers.
Jenkin is now hard at work on his latest collection – a utilitarian range influenced by the furniture and architecture on Robben Island. Given what we know about his work, the pieces will no doubt extend and enhance the value of the Gregor Jenkin brand.
Gregor Jenkin
gregorjenkin.com
A searchable and comprehensive guide for specifying leading products and their suppliers
Keep up to date with the latest and greatest from our industry BFF's!
Marylou Cafaro’s first trendjournal sparked a powerful, decades-long movement in joinery designs and finishes which eventually saw Australian design develop its independence and characteristic style. Now, polytec offers all-new insights into the future of Australian design.
The Sub-Zero Wolf showrooms in Sydney and Melbourne provide a creative experience unlike any other. Now showcasing all-new product ranges, the showrooms present a unique perspective on the future of kitchens, homes and lifestyles.
In the pursuit of an uplifting synergy between the inner world and the surrounding environment, internationally acclaimed Interior Architect and Designer Lorena Gaxiola transform the vibration of the auspicious number ‘8’ into mesmerising artistry alongside the Feltex design team, brought to you by GH Commercial.
Savage Design’s approach to understanding the relationship between design concepts and user experience, particularly with metalwork, transcends traditional boundaries, blending timeless craftsmanship with digital innovation to create enduring elegance in objects, furnishings, and door furniture.
Frost* Design has created a brand strategy, identity and marketing campaign for what will become Sydney’s latest cool, cultural hot-spot, part of the $2billion redevelopment of the Carlton & United Brewery site at the southern gateway to the CBD.
In 6 weeks time, the 2011 Design Centre Enmore Interior Design + Decoration graduates will be showcasing their work at the CO|LAB Graduate Exhibition.
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
A hospitality venue in the heart of Osaka comprising four dining options – a place where nostalgic pastimes meet high-end dining.
In our series spotlighting aficionados across the design industry, we spoke with Alexandra Guglielmino, who leads the Art Advisory team at Bluethumb Art Gallery.