The event ‘Curated Connections – Chapter 2: Second Skin’ within the exhibition ‘Second Skin’ curated by Mint Gallery successfully showcased the ingenuity and evolution of contemporary Polish design. Launched during the 2025 London Design Festival, the event was initiated by On&On designs as the second instalment in a series of three ‘Chapters’ presenting Polish design across London. The installation continued the celebration of Polish innovation, craftsmanship, and cultural exchange through design.
‘Second Skin’ provided the London debut for four esteemed Polish design studios: Formsophy, Mark Bimer, Aleksander Oniszh and Kaśka Harasym. The collection of works explored material experimentation and unconventional processes, successfully forging new dialogues in design and reinforcing Poland’s growing influence on the global design stage.
The exhibition successfully delivered a blend of exploration and refined artisanal skills, emphasising themes of material consciousness, sustainability, and circular design.
‘It was a fantastic event, the atmosphere was filled with excitement and conversation, and the gallery was filled with energy. Guests were engaged, sharing their thoughts and it was clear that everyone genuinely loved the artwork on display.’ – Anka Simone, Founder of On&On Designs
The showcased pieces illustrated how Polish designers engage with global conversations while remaining grounded in their own perspectives and traditions – illuminating core Polish methodologies that blend material mastery with cutting-edge technology and innovation.
FORMSOPHY
Founded by Alicja Prussakowska and Jakub Kijowski, Formsophy focuses on texture, material and the stories they tell. Mixing the traditional with the experimental, their sculptural objects evoke a primeval aesthetic enriched with exquisite detail. Inspired by the fluidity of liquid aluminium, their casting process becomes a cental part of the creative narrative and holds just as much weight as the final form. They describe their style as “romantic brutalism” and balance rawness with refinement to reflect the interplay of their distinct sensibilities.
SAIMAA and NAR by Formsophy
Mark Bimer
Designer, artist and sculptor Mark Bimer explores the duality between minimalism and freedom of form through his deep interest with natural synthesis and its impact on materials. Bimer investigates how natural elements including rain, light and wind shape their form and presence. Through blending aesthetics and testing, Bimer reveals unexpected and innovative forms. At Mint, Bimer presented ‘CLOUD LAMP’ and ‘CLOUD PENDANT’ organic works that evoke an ethereal atmosphere and transform spatial perception.
Cloud Lamp and Pendant by Mark Bimer
Aleksander Oniszh
A self-taught furniture designer and maker for functional art pieces, Aleksander Oniszh is well regarded for his intuitive approach to form and unusual use of tools. His work is guided by intuition and a deep understanding of wood’s natural behaviour and structure. Having founded his studio in 2013, Oniszh has developed a practice rooted in craftsmanship, precision and material honesty, producing minimalist pieces that carry the expressive marks of handwork and improvisation, shaped by a process that values the natural behaviour of wood. At Mint, Oniszh presented ‘Folly Chair’ and ‘Doodle Stool’, both of which draw on traditions of brutalism and folk art.
Folly Chair and Doodle Stool by Aleksander Oniszh
Kaśka Harasym
Known for her innovative techniques and focus on sustainability, Kaśka Harasym combines lampworking, fusing and casting. Her practice centres on glass upcycling where she transforms discarded materials into pieces with emotion.
Neocrystals by Kaśka Harasym
At Mint, her Neocrystals were on display, exploring memory and transformation through reclaimed lead glass crystal vessels, in which she ‘talks to ghosts’. Inspired by damaged traditional crystal dishes she inherited from a close family member, the work reflects on grief, time and renewal, mixing her personal dialogue with traditional glassmaking.
‘Curated Connections – Chapter 2’ is produced and co-curated by On&On Design in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Poland, Polish Cultural Institute and the Let’s Art Foundation. The installation is public task financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland within the grant competition ‘Public Diplomacy 2024 – 2025 – the European dimension and countering disinformation’.