Philia
Magazine

Kodai Suga is a Japanese metal artist and sculptor whose practice explores the expressive possibilities of metal through sculptural form and patination. After completing his Master’s degree in Arts and Crafts at Kanazawa College of Art in 2020, he developed an approach to bronze that combines precise, minimal forms with richly varied surfaces, using chemical reactions to create distinctive colours and textures.

Working with bronze casting and self-developed patination techniques, Suga embraces the changing and unpredictable qualities of metal as an integral part of his process. His works often balance a sense of strength and delicacy, exploring the relationship between material, form and perception. His work has been presented internationally at fairs including TEFAF Maastricht, Treasure House Fair, FAB Paris, Art SG, and ZONAMACO, as well as in exhibitions with A Lighthouse called Kanata in Tokyo.

David Trubridge is a New Zealand-based designer known for his work across lighting, furniture and sculptural installations. Originally trained as a naval architect at Newcastle University in Britain, he later established himself as a designer and maker after a five-year sailing journey with his family that brought him to New Zealand. His practice combines craftsmanship, sculptural exploration and contemporary design technology, deeply informed by nature.

Trubridge’s work has gained international recognition, with pieces held in major collections including the Centre Pompidou in Paris and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Among his notable works are Body Raft, produced by Cappellini, and the Icarus installation, acquired by the Centre Pompidou. In 2019, he was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to design.

Adrian Bursell is a Stockholm-based Swedish designer whose practice explores furniture through material, craft, memory and place. Trained in fine art at HDK-Valand before studying Interior Architecture and Furniture Design at Konstfack, where he graduated in 2020, his work combines a sculptural approach with an interest in traditional techniques and locally rooted materials. His graduation project, Sticks and Stones: Souvenirs from Öland, transformed limestone, juniper and ash into furniture informed by his childhood connection to the Swedish island of Öland; the project’s Lilla Alvaret side table subsequently entered the collection of Möbeldesignmuseum.

Alongside his independent practice, Bursell collaborates with designer Siri Svedborg. Their Burn & Turn series brings together turned wood with materials including hand-worked glass, ceramic and cast aluminium, emphasizing variation, tactility and the presence of the maker. The collection received Sight Unseen’s Best in Show award at Greenhouse during Stockholm Furniture Fair in 2024, and the pair were later awarded an IKEA scholarship through Young Swedish Design for the project. Across his work, Bursell approaches furniture as a meeting point between functional object, craftsmanship and material experimentation.

Didi Ng Wing Yin is a Hong Kong-born, Helsinki-based wood artist whose practice moves between sculpture, design and craft. Distinguished by his approach to carving, his work explores the intrinsic qualities of wood through a balance of material sensitivity, intuitive craftsmanship and conceptual inquiry. Central to his practice is the idea of “Naturalness,” allowing the individual characteristics of each piece of wood to guide the making process while preserving its original qualities and exploring new possibilities for carving.

Ng holds an MA in Interior Architecture from Aalto University in Finland. His work has received international recognition, including being named a finalist for the LOEWE FOUNDATION Craft Prize 2025, receiving the Rising Star of the Year Award at the Scandinavian Design Awards 2024, and winning Dezeen’s Emerging Designer of the Year Award 2024. His sculpture Pleats Vase No. 11 is part of the permanent collection of the Röhsska Museum in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Dimitrih Correa is a Brazilian multidisciplinary artist and designer based in Rio de Janeiro. Working at the intersection of collectible design and sculpture, his practice explores the relationship between material, memory, and time, with a particular focus on reclaimed hardwood and traditional craftsmanship.

Correa’s connection to materials began during his childhood in the mountains of the Atlantic Forest and later developed through his studies in Industrial Design and his experience at Oficinaethos, where he encountered the conceptual possibilities of authorial design. After a period in Dublin collaborating with design and art studios, he returned to Brazil and established his own atelier in Rio de Janeiro’s historic city centre in 2020. His works move between functional objects and sculpture, transforming reclaimed materials into pieces that combine structural precision with expressive form while reflecting on permanence, consumption and the relationship between people and the natural world. His work has received recognition, including First Place at the Salão Design Award and an Honorable Mention at the Prêmio Design MCB, and has been exhibited internationally in cities including Milan, Paris, New York, Brussels, and Antwerp.

Kansai Noguchi is a Japanese sculptor and ceramic artist whose practice brings together influences from different cultures, histories, and artistic traditions. Born in Fukuoka in 1982, Noguchi began his creative career as a professional musician before moving to the United States in 2013. An encounter with the work of Isamu Noguchi the following year became a defining moment, prompting him to leave music behind, return to Japan, and pursue sculpture and pottery.

Drawing from the simplicity of Japanese Jomon pottery, Korean Yi Dynasty ceramics, and ancient Greek sculpture, Noguchi explores their relationship with abstract expression through a process rooted in experimentation, intuition, and precision. His background in music continues to inform the way he works, approaching composition through combinations of form and material while allowing moments of improvisation and physical sensibility to guide the process. Moving between cultural references rather than adhering to a singular tradition, his work reflects an ongoing exploration of the connections between culture, history, and contemporary expression.