There can be something rather pleasant in being tricked. It's why many of us enjoy surprises, or sleight of hand. It's also why we love optical illusions. Kiev-based designer Dmitry Kozinenko pulls off an elegant bit of visual trickery with his “Field” shelf, a series of thin metal tubes that, when seen from head-on, make objects appear to float.
Seen from the side, those tubes are clearly angled and bent to lend the structure stability and create its subtle shelves. Kozinenko says the six-foot-tall piece---which is still just a concept, despite interest from what he says are two "serious" furniture producers---would come in black or gradient versions.
Kozinenko, 30, who was born in Crimea, explores warped visual effects in much of his work---a creative direction he says stems from his interest in astronomy and science. He currently works for Kiev-based architecture firm Soesthetic Group, but he's a graphic designer by training, which he says also informs his furniture's aesthetic.
His “Sunny” series creates faux shadows by extending hatch lines 45 degrees from extruded steel tables and shelves; his “Coin” tables appear to be tipping over, though their surfaces are, in fact, level. A few pieces, with names like "Renaissance," "Asteroid," and "Ink," are for sale, but most are still prototypes.
Prototype or no, there's no denying the eye-catching nature of Kozinenko's work. And unlike most illusions, knowing the secrets behind his designs doesn't rob them of their charm---and that might be his greatest trick of all.
