Originally trained in Industrial Design, Laurent is fascinated by the interplay of form, material and process, which he examines in his studio through play and experimentation. Laurent draws inspiration from many sources, often from patterns or textures in nature. Initial ideas are examined, played with, fused, iterated and refined until the results intrigue and satisfy both sight and touch. The ergonomic and interactive demands placed on furniture are what set even the most sculpturally adventurous or seemingly impractical pieces apart from pure art. It is the tactile qualities of a piece that invite interaction and it is on this tactility that much of Laurent’s work focuses. Wood is often the natural choice, providing a supremely tactile experience for both maker and end user alike. In his latest series of works Laurent takes just a single material, solid sycamore wood, and employs a wide range of carving and finishing techniques to create pattern, texture, light, shade, direction and transition in bold, simple forms. Sycamore’s silky fine grain and naturally pale tones are elevated, pushed and pulled in myriad directions to highlight the many personalities of this otherwise humble material.