Luam Melake

Exhibited at DESIGN MIAMI. 2023 Luam Melake creates furniture that encourages social and emotional engagement, transforming ordinary interactions into valuable moments. Her practice refers to the histories and methodologies of art, design, craft, and architecture, and she often borrows and combines techniques and materials from each field. Melake’s process begins by taking notes from psycho-analytic studies to propose an exaggeration of mobility that highlights familiar concepts, while exploring broader themes of interpersonal relationships. The various positions one can take on her pieces—inclined or upright, relaxed or attentive—suggest active or passive stances, and allow users to favor or evade eye contact, engage in casual chats or emotional discussions, meditate, or confess. With the Listening Chair, in particular, Melake designed the work for confessional dialog and listening, with several positions that encourage eye contact and flexibility. The resulting dynamics promote new ways of facilitating personal interactions; connecting with others and with the objects themselves. Through this pioneering and innovative practice, Melake is redefining Materials: Urethane, polyurethane foam, and dyes.