1.22.2021 | DIGS.NET 21
P R O F I L E | O C R Ù M
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: ORIZON MIRROR IN VIVID BLUE, OREE CLOCK,
NIDO MELLOW STOOL, CIOCIO SIDE TABLE, DEW + DROP PENDANT LAMP
EAN ZHANG HAS FOUND A WAY TO EXPRESS HIS
feelings and emotions through design since he
was a teenager. After studying in Italy and the
United States, then working in Japan, France and
Germany, Zhang settled in New York, where he
founded his studio Ocrùm. "All these experiences give me
a unique perspective and allow me to distill and combine
elements of different cultures into my work," he says. A good
example is the Orizon mirror, which blends Chinese concepts
with Italian craftsmanship. It's a piece that, as he puts it,
"reflects the water surface fluctuations (dong, which means
movement in Chinese) and the sunlight exposure (jing, which
means stillness) within a functional object. This idea is brought
to life through Italian crafting expertise and materials such as
ceramic and marble."
Profoundly inspired by Asian culture, the young designer
pays close attention to detail and gives importance to every vari-
ation of shape, color and material. Working with marble, glass,
wood and ceramic, Zhang mixes subtle warm and cold hues—for
visual balance—with slightly low saturation like ocean blue and
wine red. Having a strong sense and appreciation for nostalgia,
Zhang evokes memories through his creations. He is currently
working on a new collection inspired by the chaotic world of last
year, which will launch this spring. ocrumstudios.com
Emotional Edge
Beijing-born and New York-based Sean Zhang,
who leads Ocrùm, creates furniture, lighting,
mirror and decorative accessories collections
with a high level of precision. W R I T T E N B Y K A R I N E M O N I É
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PHOTOS:
SEAN
ZHANG,
PORTRAIT
BY
YUE
JIANG
