ICE of GENESIS is the beginning of everything; the origin of nature, and of matter. The origin of an idea, a creative process that seeks to change the status quo of surface coverings. It is the most ambitious collection from COMPAC, offering a series of surfaces in which technology, design and art come together to create something that has never been seen before.
For such an inspiring endeavour, COMPAC has collaborated with a truly disruptive and transgressive mind – someone who can see beyond: the designer and artist Arik Levy.
The quartz collection ICE of GENESIS is the result of the huge challenge of creating a material that has depth but is also flat and resistant. Imitating the feeling of walking on ice, exquisitely balanced between fragility and stability.
The Concept: A stone from another planet
Inspired by the great ice lakes that can be found in the Arctic, Ice of Genesis reveals on its surface visual fragments similar to those produced by natural stone, causing the eye to delve into ethereal qualities and surprising material transparency. The goal was to create warmth, coolness and abstraction. The black pieces from Ice of Genesis are abstract, the red ones represent the warmth of the earth, whereas white speaks of coldness. Whatever they say, they all produce a sense of depth, responding to parameters that seem unknown in the visual sense, but are closely connected to the collective memory of our very natures. A balance between solid and liquid; elements that are constantly connected in our day-to-day lives. It is an emotional value. The emotion of ergonomics.
The Ice of Genesis collection has two main designs, Ice White and Ice Black. All COMPAC engineered quartz slabs contain ~95% of real quartz mineral. The remaining part is a combination of a resin, that acts as a bonding agent, and pigments. COMPAC engineered quartz designs are highly sustainable because of a tremendous waste reduction in the manufacturing process.
As opposed to porcelain and most sintered stones, that have a stencilled design printed on the surface, designs on all COMPAC, including Ice of Genesis Collection, engineered stones actually have depth in the material.
Veins and grain are embedded in the whole thickness of the slab. The slab can be cut at any point and the design will actually show up on the edge of the surface.
ARIK LEVY: Ice of Genesis designer
Artist, technician, photographer, designer, video artist, Arik Levy is the ideal designer for Ice of Genesis Collection.
Levy’s skills are multi-disciplinary and his work can be seen in prestigious galleries and museums worldwide. Best known publicly for his sculptures – such as his signature Rock pieces – his installations, limited editions and design, Levy nevertheless feels the world is about people, not objects. Hailing originally from Israel and moving to Europe, after his first participation in a group sculpture exhibition in Tel-Aviv in 1986, Levy currently works in his studio in Paris.
His facet as a multidisciplinary artist has allowed him to understand Ice of Genesis collection from a unique perception. His formation was unconventional, as well as his art and graphic design studio, took up much of his time back home. Following studies in 1991, he gained a distinction at the Art Center Europe, the Switzerland branch of Art Center Pasadena, LA. After a stint in Japan, Levy returned to Europe where he contributed his artistry to another fields.
Considering himself now more of a feeling artist, Arik Levy continues to contribute to our interior and exterior milieu, his work including public sculpture, as well as complete environments that can be adapted for multi-use. Working on Ice of Genesis collection, this is the first time Levy has experimented with engineered stone.
We invite you to visit COMPAC website to see the entire Ice of Genesis Collection.
