Spotlight: Morpho

Though France might claim the style as its own, Art Nouveau—one of many schools of thought that defined the transitional period between the late 19th and early 20th centuries—originated in Belgium. The overall international preoccupation with naturalism at the time was very much a response to the second industrial revolution and the forward march of mass manufacturing. This impetus —what had previously been the elaborate Victorian era melding of historicist reference points in ornamentation—ironically denoted the emergence of a new business elite forged out of this new period. Belgium was the second country in the world to fully industrialize. 

Sinuous forms distilled from nature rendered in cast iron and other emergent materials, demarcating the push among many practitioners toward the pared-back and ultimately transcendent vocabulary of High Modernism, the prevalent style that would emerge after the seismic socio-political and cultural shift of World War I. Major proponents of Art Nouveau included Paul Hankar, Victor Horta, and Henry van de Velde, who would go on to become the first director of the Bauhaus school in Germany.

(Image above courtesy Patricia Goijens)

Looking to celebrate the historical style and its lasting impact on various facets of visual culture, the new Morpho collection was developed in partnership between major Belgian electronic music festival Tomorrowland, Belgian outdoor furniture brand Ethnicraft, and Antwerp-based architect Dieter Vander Velpen. The latter is known for his luxuriously outfitted residential projects found across the world, including one developed for the festival’s co-founder. The Great Library Design Studio is the new moniker Vander Velpen is now operating under as the project unfolds.

Like many of Tomorrowland’s all-encompassing “world within world” stagings—massive events held in Belgium and other parts of the world—the inaugural Morpho furniture collection is deeply rooted in nature. Expertly produced by Ethnicraft’s Indonesian artisans, the Aleta barstool, Vime lounger, Zen outdoor lounger, Solis outdoor daybed, Volita dining chair, and Cena dining table embody the same formal language: masterfully shaped wooden frames undulating to reflect the delicate structure of a dragonfly’s wings. Webbed cradles within the loungers and the Voronoi patterns of the tabletops are also distinctive evocations of the historical style. Counterbalancing the wooden structures and in some cases, plush upholstery are touches of iridescent brass. 

The project stems from the festival’s aim of becoming a full 360-lifestyle brand. Vander Velpen is set to be involved in other spatial projects but the Morpho collection is a more immediate first step announcing the larger venture. “Eventually, the aim is to imagine everything from the building to the cutlery,” he says. What he’s hinting at is the “total work of art approach” many Art Nouveau architects adopted as well. No component will be left to chance. “Our ambition is to interpret the DNA of the festival in varied ways.”

Owing to its place of fabrication, the furniture collection also takes on a tropical trait. However, at ICFF 2025, it will be presented within a brutalist scenography, yet another architectural style that took root in Belgium, especially during the 1960s and 70s. “The idea was to have this offering also look contemporary; achieve a level of surrealism through the use of emergent technologies like 3D modeling and AI.” The correlations with the thinking behind Art Nouveau are numerous. The collection is very much a reflection of the past and the future, of nature and industry, just like Tomorrowland. The various furnishings will be sold on a contract basis and are durable enough for hospitality environments.

If you are curious to discover more about Morpho, check out the website, HERE
Follow Morpho on Instagram, and if you wish to meet the team, make sure to connect with them at ICFF, May 18-20, 2025. Register Now >>>