PHENOMENA
A Universe of Objects by Studio MARSA
‘Phenomena’ is the debut collection of sculptural objects for Studio MARSA by Serbian-born, London-based architect and designer Aleksandar Stanković. Drawing inspiration from the celestial, the collection approaches the outer space as a realm of play, self-expression, and transformation, treating it as a projection of the world within. Together, the pieces form a universe of their own, where the bursts of energy become expressions of personal journeys, emotions, and beliefs.
The Process Behind
Radiant colours, graphic shapes, and expressive forms compose a landscape of joyous exuberance, inviting a sense of freedom, discovery, and childlike exhilaration. The creative process behind Phenomena can be described as a “coming-of-age in reverse” — a return to younger, more instinctive versions of the self and their re-integration into the ongoing design practice and the adulthood. Distilled to the essential pursuit of joy and excitement, the collection embraces a state of untethered playfulness, optimism, and possibility.
Collection Pieces
‘Phenomena’ comprises seven objects — a coffee table, side table, two stools, a wall sconce, floor lamp, and doorstop — alongside a single wearable piece: the Phenomena Mask.
Serving as the collection’s emblem, the mask draws on a woollen ski mask worn by Aleksandar’s father during childhood, which earned him the nickname “Marsa” (“a man from Mars” or “outer space”). Reimagined and handcrafted in leather, it functions as both costume and uniform, offering an entry point into the imaginary dimension of Phenomena.
Collection Pieces
‘Phenomena’ comprises seven objects — a coffee table, side table, two stools, a wall sconce, floor lamp, and doorstop — alongside a single wearable piece: the Phenomena Mask.
Serving as the collection’s emblem, the mask draws on a woollen ski mask worn by Aleksandar’s father during childhood, which earned him the nickname “Marsa” (“a man from Mars” or “outer space”). Reimagined and handcrafted in leather, it functions as both costume and uniform, offering an entry point into the imaginary dimension of Phenomena.
Visual Language and Symbolism
Starbursts, flames, and spirals emerge as recurring archetypes throughout the collection—both as graphic and volumetric forms capturing movement, transformation, and emotional intensity. Supernova, the bright yellow coffee table named after one of the universe’s most luminous phenomena, embodies the desire to break out, undergo dramatic change, and unapologetically take up space. Similarly, but on a smaller scale, The Little Bang captures the spark of an idea, while The Upward Spiral reflects the continuous trajectory of self-reinforcement and the determined cultivation of hope. Elsewhere, pieces such as the Comet stools offer a playful, camp interpretation of “being in the hot seat,” while others embrace more nuanced and captivating qualities of celestial phenomena, as seen in the backlit hypnotic wheel of the Eclipse-Hypno sconce.
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Materiality and Fabrication
The collection’s graphic language is amplified through a distinctly maximalist approach to materiality, bringing together artisanal fabrication techniques such as scagliola—the 17th-century Baroque art of pigmented plaster moulding—with hand-stitched and hand-painted cowhide leatherwork, bent steel, and high-gloss lacquered surfaces. The resulting interplay of colour, texture, and craft lends the collection its exuberant and expressive character. All collection pieces are handmade-to-order in the United Kingdom with a lead time of six to eight weeks. Bespoke finishes and dimensions are available upon request.
Photo: Jurga Ramonaite
