Scotty Bemelen is a Melbourne-based maker creating characterful works that rest within the realm of storied beautility. Through immersive play-based inquiry and the embracing of unbridled material exploration, Scotty forges pieces that defy definition, belonging instead to the overlapping shared space on a Venn diagram representing furniture design, sculpture and improvisation.
During the pandemic, Scotty combined his construction expertise with a deep-seated creative passion, experimenting with a myriad of mediums through a freeform process of carving, burning, beating, staining and texturing, resulting in a uniquely primal collection that quickly caught the attention of the design world and led to the establishment of practice, BIEËMELE. His pieces not only serve functional purposes but also evoke joy and tactile interaction, showcasing a mastery of colour often serendipitously forged by the application of stains and chemicals that render graphic patinas upon timber and copper and a penchant for whimsical, thought-provoking designs that engage the imagination through motifs and organic forms.
Scotty’s work stands apart in the design and art realm for its enchanting singularity that makes talismans of fictional furniture, turning the concept of a simple chair into a compact transformative place in which to hide away from the world and while away the hours.