Kohler x SR_A can be called many things: abstract, progressive, hell, even a tad polarizing—by design, of course. But with the inventive duo’s latest installation, dubbed ‘Formation 02,’ one simple yet potent statement sums everything up nicely: Kohler x SR_A is the shit—literally.
While Milan Design Week 2024 has sadly come to pass, we still can’t get over this damn toilet—and for good reason. Elegantly ensconced by an intricate network of orange-tinted industrial piping in the historic Palazzo del Santo courtyard, ‘Formation 02’ is an evolution of the multi-layered partnership between the interdisciplinary design virtuoso and the storied American appliance manufacturer.
Building off the success of ‘Formation 01,’ which saw the experimental dyad turn an ordinary household faucet into a didactic piece of artwork at Miami Art Basel, the updated offering from Kohler and Samuel Ross’ specialized SR_A ideation studio further expands their imaginative world to include another dazzling design oddity that is undoubtedly a number two in name only.
Drawing on brutalist design techniques, the lavish latrine boasts a mixture of pointed, intentional edging and gentle contouring about its textured silhouette, communicating that this artisanal artifact is a far cry from your common commode. Reflecting the opulence of an excavated treasure more so than a run-of-the-mill home appliance, ‘Formation 02’ adopts its own artistic language, aligning its focus with Ross’ desire to understand the relationship between water and its efficient movement through the many channels it passes.
As part of Kohler Co.’s larger showing in Milan, which also included a dedicated booth featuring its subbrands Klafs, Kallista, and Kast, curated by Yabu Pushelberg at the famed Salone de Mobile design fair, the futuristic formation serves an enigmatic prompt that asks us to rethink our understanding of the day-to-day items we sometimes take for granted.
Flushing away any previous doubts, this fascinating entry into Samuel Ross' storied oeuvre further solidifies the multifaceted maven as a seminal fixture among other revered names in the Pantheon of design. More than a familiar face in this arena, Ross comfortably sits on his newly minted (porcelain) throne, contemplating how much further he and Kohler can extend the boundaries created by their abstract aggregate of appliances.
Diving deeper into the ethos, inspiration, and ideology of his newest endeavor with Kohler, Highsnobiety caught up with Ross for a quick conversation during the exclusive unveiling of ‘Formation 02’ at Milan Design Week.
How do you approach such an abstract project with a brand like Kohler?
In the beginning, I was more focused on draftsmanship, so I used pen, pencil, ink, charcoal, and clay to determine my forms. They’re such human mediums, and you don't know what the end output is going to be because you are picking up responses to the cadences, quirks, and errors in real-time.
I think the best way to approach this partnership was to not treat it like something so design-specific. It was more about the wider idea of moving water and how it’s delivered safely through its vessels.
What stands out as the hallmark differences when working with the Kohler team to bring ‘Formation 02‘ to life?
Time. We knew we had a longer runway to articulate this idea, so we were able to build a really robust language and ensure that there was an index of storytelling underneath the surface. It's very easy to make something abstract. It's another thing to make sure people feel something or that a response is solicited from an object.
In what ways has this project inspired your work in other disciplines?
Maybe it’s not necessarily inspiration but rather learning what my optimal workflow is. The project started while I was designing two fine art gallery shows, but I didn't want to treat design as though it was outside the canon of fine art. Fundamentally, it's me, understanding that I like to work with my hands first, sketching and plotting things out.
How do formulate ideas like ‘Formation 02’? Where are these ideas generated from?
There are a few silos which I tend to establish when I start a project. One is militant research and almost top line principles that I think are relevant to a particular category. So for example, when it came to sanitary solutions, for me, it was thinking more about water delivery, its movement, and our reliance on water.
The other component is literally just gestural work, not thinking; only feeling. I take out huge sheets of paper and charcoal and just move my hand, seeing how the subconscious mind can maybe pull from the research and the broader questions and articulate that through form and gesture.
Finally, it's congealing the research with the gestural, bringing them together, and allowing them to speak.
What drives you to dive further into storytelling?
The arts, as a whole, represent liberty and freedom of form. It's such a privilege and an honor to be viewed as a generational artist, so it's not something I take lightly. For that reason, among many others, I am completely fixated and dedicated to my craft.
What does the next level of the Kohler x SR_A world look like?
Well, I think it's good that people want more of it. That's my answer.
