Five short questions about design: Rukom Studio

Ever since Marina Ćuruvija, in her weekend recommendations for Belgrade, suggested that we visit the newly opened Rukom Studio in Inđija, I knew I wanted to find out what it was about. “They create beautiful ceramic sculptures, lamps, furniture and so much more that carries the touch of the hand, the material and the idea. I like this moment of decentralization. I believe that, over time, the space will open its doors to more people. Follow them, it is lovely to watch them grow,” Marina told me.

Rukom Studio was recently opened by three friends who are artists. They immediately correct me with a laugh and say, “You think it was recent, but we have been rolling this story out for three years already. It all started with a desire to create something unique for our own homes. Ceramics drew us in as a noble and lasting material, and working with clay was a challenge.” After getting hooked on it and completely falling in love with the entire process, they joined forces with the idea of doing what they love most, together.

Their studio is spacious and fresh, and it is where an intriguing kind of design comes to life. Lamps, sculptures, furniture, small objects, everything that creates the atmosphere of a home, and in their case, I would dare to say, makes it different because they create unique pieces. The division of work goes like this: “One of us focuses more on exploring form, another solves the technical problems, and the third handles communication and visual identity,” they tell me, adding that the larger forms require more hands, so they create them in pairs. “Each of us is full of ideas and we talk about them a lot and build on one another’s thoughts, and we make decisions about which project goes into production together,” they say.

Getting to know them better was my next idea for Rukom studio, and through five short questions about design I managed to learn more about this studio that you will certainly be hearing much more about.

Is ceramics your main tool?

Ceramics is our main form of expression, our main medium, but the main tool is still our hands. The manual, craft part of the work takes up most of the day, and we even have calluses to prove it. (laughs).

Photo: Bojana Pujić

You create at the intersection of sculpture and functional objects. What sets your work apart from everyday items?

Our pieces have a presence even when they are not being used. They bring a space to life and give it character. We often see beautifully designed interiors where it still feels like something is missing for the full experience, and the issue is not a lack of time or money invested. The narrow niche in which Rukom Studio operates addresses that kind of problem. A space does not need another piece, it needs the right one.

Photo: Bojana Pujić

What does a day in your studio look like and how fast do your pieces come to life?

While developing a new project, we encounter all kinds of challenges, from interesting and creative ones to tedious, repetitive tasks that still need to be done by hand. This is why our workdays rarely resemble one another. There are no fixed working hours, and the search for ideas often continues outside the studio. Sometimes the idea that brings everything together appears in the middle of the night. We pay close attention to every detail, we are building our own brand, and we focus on small series. In general, working with clay is a slow process.

Photo: Bojana Pujić

If you had to describe Rukom Studio in one sentence, what would it be?

Ceramic pieces that are not quite furniture and not quite sculptures either…

Photo: Bojana Pujić

Which piece would you recommend to someone who is decorating an apartment and wants to make the interior striking?

Lighting has a strong impact on how a space feels, which is why we would always recommend a lamp as a piece that leaves a powerful impression. Our goal is for every object we create to have the ability to shape the atmosphere and make a space memorable. Even a smaller piece, such as a small lamp or a candle holder, can be the perfect accent that makes a difference.