A Stand That Whispered - Inside Artep Studio’s Decorex Cape Town Installation

When we were invited to be the Designer Spotlight of the Year at Decorex Cape Town 2025, we knew one thing from the start. We weren’t building a stand. We were creating an atmosphere. A space that didn’t shout for attention but invited people to feel something. To slow down. To look twice. Maybe even to stay longer than they expected. The concept behind the installation was simple but intentional. Sculptural presence meets material storytelling. We wanted to blur the line between art, design and architecture while staying grounded in Artep Studio’s signature. Raw textures, refined finishes and an emotional undercurrent you can’t quite name.

Every Texture Had a Role

From hand-applied Liquid Metal panels to grounded, stone-like surfaces, every material was chosen for its character. The textures weren’t just visual. They set the tone. Our contemporary distressed mirror brought in a sense of time and memory, gently distorting reflections to create unexpected movement within the space. And sculptural artworks acted as anchors. Tall, quiet and confident.

One of those pieces, Protea, holds a special story. The pattern was drawn from the top view of Willowlamp’s iconic Protea Chandelier, referencing a private project we worked on in collaboration with Elisha Annandale from Decor Identity. There, the chandelier floats above a dramatic double-volume staircase. Here, we reimagined that same emotional energy in sculptural form, bridging past and present. For the Decorex stand, we featured Willowlamp’s Stalactite chandelier. A dramatic focal point that echoed our themes of movement and materiality with sculptural grace.

Liquid Metal. A Material That Found Us

About two years ago, in the middle of one of our endless deep-dives for new materials, we stumbled across something unexpected. Liquid Metal. Not a coating, not a lookalike. Real metal, applied as a skin with the freedom to sculpt, sand and shape.

We immediately saw the potential and embraced it with open arms. Since then, it’s become a cornerstone of our surface design language. Having the inventor, Wolfgang Napp, and Silvana Conradi, CEO of Midas Metall, present at Decorex was an enormous privilege and an important signal to our clients. This isn’t a passing trend. It’s a serious, high-performance material that’s new to the South African market but already making a global impact.

Reflections with Soul - The RTD Mirror Collaboration

We were thrilled to showcase a special collaboration with RTD Mirrors, a young brand whose talent and dedication shine through in every piece. Their contemporary distressed mirrors didn’t just reflect light. They added atmosphere. A quiet kind of drama. A touch of distortion that brought emotion and movement into the space.

In a world of clean perfection, their mirrors reminded us that design can be soulful, even a little flawed. And that’s exactly what gives it life. We’re keeping an eye on RTD and something tells us this is just the beginning.

Furniture as Sculpture

Furniture also played a key role in shaping the spatial experience. We collaborated with Ken Leiman Furniture on a custom console and coffee table, both designed to echo the textural richness and minimalist restraint of the stand. Crafted with precision and quiet elegance, these pieces helped bridge the gap between sculpture and function, adding warmth, balance and a strong design backbone.

A Space That Lingered

The feedback we received was overwhelming, in the best way. Visitors didn’t just pass through the stand. They stayed. They looked. They touched. Some even came back twice. That was the real success. Creating a space that lingered in memory, not just on social media.

We designed the stand to be immersive, layered and deeply personal. Every surface carried meaning. Every collaboration brought substance. It wasn’t just about showcasing what we do. It was about sharing how we think and feel as a studio.

And while Decorex may be over, this moment has just begun to unfold. Watch this space.

Interested in working with us?

Whether you're dreaming up a one-of-a-kind sculptural piece, sourcing Liquid Metal for a high-end project or just want to explore what’s possible, we’re ready when you are.

Video kindly supplied by Shalom Interiors