Albi Serfaty, "The situation of the lakes is alarming"

Any landscape in which a lake appears is transformed. All other elements including mountains, meadows, and forests, become the backdrop when a sheet of water appears. Technically, lake basins can be formed by geological processes or by the formation of natural reservoirs. Glaciations and volcano craters can also give rise to lakes. However, their conservation is affected by problems such as urbanization, intensive agriculture, soil pollution, high population concentration, and poor waste disposal. Artist and designer Albi Serfaty has just launched his Lakes collection. The exquisite lamps in Serfaty's collection are inspired by freshwater lakes around the world, with the aim of raising awareness of their alarming state.

Can you tell us what initially inspired you to create the Lakes collection?
It all started in 2021, during the COVID pandemic, I was thinking about my role as a designer and how I could contribute to making people a little happier during those times. I designed a new collection called Code 130˚, the reason for this name is the angle; when one looks up, it is the angle of optimism. The Code 130˚ collection is made with shades of colorful silk combined with a shiny black mirror plate in between. The collection is cheerful and has been very successful ever since, but the most important thing was the way we managed to convey a message through the design. That's how "design with a social conscience" was born, as we call it at Aqua Studio. We were inspired by nature, especially what surrounds water. The Lakes collection is our small contribution to addressing an urgent social issue.

You mentioned that the first pieces in the collection are inspired by the shape and current state of freshwater such as Lake Doiran and Lake Chad. How have they influenced your designs? 
I first sought inspiration from the shapes of lakes around the world, then I learned that most freshwater lakes are troubled. The collection is inspired by the plight of freshwater lakes around the world, including Lake Chad covering Cameroon, Nigeria, and Niger, which has shrunk by 95% over time, and Lake Doiran, located between Greece and North Macedonia, which is on the brink of ecological catastrophe due to drought and overuse of water. As a studio, we now know that our designs have the power to raise awareness for these critical issues and bring about change. Therefore, we will continue to create pieces that not only inspire but also initiate debate and encourage action.

Your studio has been inspired by underwater life, shapes, and forms for 30 years. How has this influenced the collection and how has your work evolved over time? 
Inspired by the vivid hues and unique shapes of the underwater landscape, we set to work to create our first pieces, many of which are still part of our current collection. Despite the evolution of our designs towards a more modern aesthetic, Aqua Creations' signature DNA remains with bold colors, natural fabrics, and organic contours. Our latest collection embodies this progression in our work. While these designs continue to be influenced by the natural world, they also allow us to raise awareness of issues that are critical and transcend beyond design.

The Lakes collection premiered at Design Miami and is now available online. How has it been received and what do you expect the impact of the collection to be in terms of raising awareness for freshwater lakes? 
The response has been great. In fact, addressing social issues through our work has created a significant impact on our network. The media as well as our clients love what we do and the purpose of it all. We chose Design Miami as a platform to launch our latest collection because we knew it would reach a lot of influencers in the (design) world.

As an artist and designer, what do you find most rewarding about creating pieces and how do you see your work evolving in the future? 
To walk into the studio and see our artisans making more and more of these pieces is a great feeling because it means that pieces from this collection are getting orders. The images customers send us when the pieces are hanging in their homes, restaurants, or offices, make me proud of what we do.

We would love to know more about your relationship with travel. Can you tell us how traveling has influenced your work? 
Traveling is what gave birth to our studio. In 1992, on vacation in the Sinai Desert (Egypt), my partner and I were diving above a beautiful coral reef, when we came up with the idea of creating a new furniture and lighting studio, gifted by the Red Sea.

In your travels, have you had the opportunity to visit the lakes that inspired your collection, such as Lake Doiran and Lake Chad? If so, could you share your experiences and impressions of those visits? 
There are currently two forms of lakes in the collection, and a third that we will be launching very soon. I have not yet visited Lake Chad (Africa) or Lake Doiran (Greece). Research alone was enough for me to start designing this collection, but of course, I would love to visit them someday. I live in Israel, where the Dead Sea is located. It is a magical place, which descends to the lowest point on earth. The Dead Sea is almost half its size since I remember it from school maps. It gets its water from the Jordan River, but the water is used for agriculture along the way and today only a small amount reaches the sea. In addition, there is a huge factory that uses the minerals by drying the salt water, which makes the situation even worse. I am now working on a new play, called "The Dying Dead," which reflects my memories of that time when I was in elementary school versus the current situation. So my travels are both personal and physical.

We're curious to know more about your preferences when it comes to traveling. Do you have a favorite mode of transportation, and do you have any rituals or routines you follow while traveling? 
I'm the kind of traveler who likes to go to a place and stay there for a while, meet the people, learn about their customs, and enjoy nature. Lately, I also like to travel with a motorhome.

As a person with a great eye for design, is there a specific destination that has impressed you for its architectural or natural beauty? 
It's been the same for years. It's in the Sinai Desert, where Aqua Creations started, diving in that same coral reef, and watching the marine life for hours is my favorite place. The nature, the red desert hills behind you, and the red sea in front of you, never cease to amaze me. The nature there is so wild and at the same time so peaceful. There is nothing there, hardly any wifi, no tourist attractions. It calms my mind, and that's where the inspiration begins.

In your opinion, what are the must-visit destinations for art, design, and nature lovers? Could you share some of your favorite places? 
Nature is my biggest source of inspiration. I love to visit and experience new places. Norway for the first time, and soon I will be traveling to Portugal. But as lovely as other places are, Sinai is and always will be my favorite destination, Moon Island Camp located in Nuweiba, in particular. Israel also has a lot to offer; from lush green hills and rivers in the north, forests and natural springs in the center, to the beautiful desert in the south. We often get out and drive to places we have never visited; there is so much beauty all around us if you know how to look.

Traveling often provides unique and memorable experiences. Can you share one or two of your most unforgettable trips and how they have influenced your personal or professional life? 
Last year I traveled with my oldest daughter through Norway. The landscape was like nothing I had ever seen before. Beautiful, but also haunting. I could see with my own eyes how the largest icebergs shrink and shrink, never managing to replenish themselves; a disturbing sight. And recently, when I revisited the Sinai, I was diving in the same spot as 30 years ago. But this time, the reef showed me that it was in trouble. What happened is that, once again, the Red Sea inspired me professionally, because precisely at that moment I decided it was time to give something back. The studio grew because of nature, and now it's time to return the favor.

Finally, are there any upcoming destinations on your travel bucket list that you're particularly excited to explore? How do you think these trips will influence your work and your perspective on design? 
Our team is currently working on a project we call "Reef Protectors" to protect the very coral reefs where Aqua Creations was "born." We are collaborating with the local people of Sinai to educate locals and tourists on how to treat the coral reefs and protect this delicate ecosystem for future generations. I will be visiting Sinai more often than ever, and I do not doubt that this place will continue to be an inspiration to me personally and professionally.