A 300-kilogram aluminium sculpture contains one centimetre of water for a birdbath in Danish artists Frederik Nystrup-Larsen and Oliver Sundqvist's work, showcased in our Dezeen x The Mindcraft Project 2021 collaboration.

Function follows form in the artist' piece, titled 300kg Beauty Bath and picked as one of 10 experimental designs for The Mindcraft Project exhibition.

The duo did not set out with any conceptual foundation or end goal for the piece; instead, they let the process — which involved working with polystyrene, tape and aluminium — dictate the end result.

They built the form initially out of polystyrene and tape, and then sand-cast it — meaning they buried it in sand and then poured in molten aluminium.

The solidified aluminium pieces bear all the marks and textures of the polystyrene they replaced. For 300kg Beauty Bath, five such pieces are secured around an aluminium frame, with a small pool on top adding the birdbath functionality.

"The piece is vulnerable and it is sexy and very romantic," said Nystrup-Larsen.

"Normally we work really conceptually," added Sundqvist, "but with this project it was more about the intuitive way of thinking and having fun."

Video is by Benjamin Lund.

Dezeen x The Mindcraft Project

The Mindcraft Project is an annual exhibition presented by the Copenhagen Design Agency to bring the best in explorative and experimental Danish design to the world.

The Dezeen x The Mindcraft Project 2021 collaboration showcases the work of 10 innovative designers and studios from the 2021 digital edition of the exhibition via a series of videos. Watch all the videos as we publish them at: www.dezeen.com/the-mindcraft-project-2021.

Dezeen x The Mindcraft Project 2021 is a partnership between Dezeen and Copenhagen Design Agency. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.