DECONSTRUCTING PROJECTS “THE SELL MURAL”

DECONSTRUCTING PROJECTS is our new initiative to share what goes on behind the scenes — the processes, decisions, and stories behind each project. It’s also a way to give visibility to the artists, craftspeople, and makers we collaborate with, while offering other creatives ideas and inspiration.

We’ll talk about craft, antiques, our own furniture and product design — where things come from and how they’re made. Being a small team means every element is carefully chosen and created with intention, so we thought… why not share our process openly?

In this edition of HURLÉ & MARTÍN / Deconstructing Projects, we’re walking you through the creation of a shell mural we designed and produced in collaboration with artist Johina Conchesco, with whom we’ve worked for many years — from the first concept to the finished piece.

The mural’s composition was inspired by a Roman mosaic depicting peacock feathers. All shells come from calcified locations, meaning they are legally sourced and cause no harm to nature, and you get whatever comes in; you can’t order a specific size or quantity. This is why its so special. For this project, darker shells were scarce due to a 1°C rise in water temperature from the previous year, so the artist hand-dyed them with black pigment to create the deepest shades.