Introducing sculptural artist and RETROUVIUS client Michael Samuels, who is transforming one of our Hardwood Porthole Doors, reclaimed from London’s West End, into his latest abstract artwork.
❝ I have always worked with the idea of making functional objects non-functional. My go-to medium has been 1960s and 70s furniture for a long time, reconstructing and deconstructing. From experience the less I do the better and I always like my medium to be domestic. I avoid art materials. Recently I made a series of paintings for Berlin constructed out of vintage letterpress trays. I find the back super interesting, with the paint marks and fingerprints, I don’t do anything to them, they are carefully sourced ( although they are mostly sold to put chintzy bits in the front I always ask for a picture of the back). Then I put them together very quickly in a performative way.
I purchased your porthole door because I wanted to make another painting. It caught my eye as a readymade product and its provenance and history in London. I originally wanted a pair but couldn’t afford them so I thought of a way to ‘filet’ one into two. My solution was the 5-foot saw. The saw is a beautiful made-to-order two-handed saw from Flinn Garlick Saws. This saw becomes part of the performative aspect of my work. I like to use my hands, and always experiment and often it doesn’t work, but I think this is an essential part of the process. It’s hard work but very satisfying.
I should end up with two 12mm filets of the same door which will go together on the wall as a painting. I have yet to decide whether they will go laterally or vertically as I am a firm believer in not knowing what the end result will be whilst making, as a rule, I don’t draw or plan, and making quick aesthetic decisions (this is the painterly bit). Once sawn, both sides will have their glass and door furniture put back together meticulously, it always takes a lot of effort to make work look simple ❞
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