Inspired by the transcendent mountainous landscape surrounding their home in Karuizawa, co-founders of ab concept, Ed Ng and Terence Ngan have designed a sophisticated new wallpaper collection for New York-based Calico Wallpaper

International architecture and interior design studio ab concept have partnered with Calico Wallpaper to introduce a new collection of serene wallcoverings in a tasteful spectrum of colorways. Newly launched at the 2022 edition of Milan Design Week, the Tableau collection explores the colourful and complex micro-seasons of Japan's coniferous forests, echoing the landscape’s shift from day to night in eight vivid colorways: Aspen, Auburn, Awash, Nebula, Nightfall, Nimbus, Nival, and Springtide. 

Encompassing a surreal scene at their launch in Milan, the immersive forest scene was presented by the designers, the wallpaper company and contemporary glassware brand NUDE, and aptly named Forest of Reflection. Transforming Via Pietro Maroncelli 7 into an enchanting forest complete with a grass floor, floating screens and central ‘Nest bar’, crafted from a series of layered antique brass rings, this installation drew upon the inspiring elements of the new Tableau collection.  Visitors to the space were guided through a woodland of silk-printed screens, lit by celestial clusters of NUDE’s mouth-blown Mono pendants, culminating at the Nest bar which served a daily aperitivo; a bespoke cocktail designed by award-winning mixologist Remy Savage. Prepared with gin, vermouth, aromatic crème de poire and a heady cordial of foraged pine and lime, the experience of sipping the concotion from NUDE’s signature cocktail glasses, succinctly captured the essence of a Japanese forest and enhanced the sensory experience. Notes Asli Aydogan, Şişecam sales channels director and head of NUDE, “As a natural and abundant material, we see the simplicity of our glass echoed in the serenity and ethereal calm of the forest surroundings. Using the subtle accents of our coloured and frosted glass, ab concept has cleverly recreated the warming, redolent hues of dawn and dusk.” 

Ed Ng, co-founder of ab concept further elaborates, “Forests offer a special sense of wellness and stimulate all of the senses: sight, sound, scent, texture and taste. Living in Karuizawa, I have felt very fortunate to witness the ever-changing landscape surrounding my home. In this collection, we wanted to replicate this, and offer a sense of stillness and escapism.” Indeed, it’s Ed’s personal photography that best captures the mesmerizing qualities of a mountain range as it transforms in reaction to clouds, light, snow and mist. Layers of fine lines, reflective of the terrain, continually invites viewers to discover the glistening landscape anew. Tableau captures the brisk yet soft, dream-like light and color of the Japanese Alps, at once evocative and serene.

“We worked with ab concept to capture this majestic landscape from a range of perspectives – from distant and delicate to fully immersive, demonstrating the lifecycle of a forest,” expresses Calico Wallpaper co-founder and creative director, Rachel Cope. “From Ed’s images, we drew on various abstract and artistic painting techniques to convey the brisk yet soft, dream-like light and colour of the Japanese Alps, and using advanced technologies have translated these into custom-fit Tableau murals.”

Tableau comprises eight colorways: Aspen, Auburn, Awash, Nebula, Nightfall, Nimbus, Nival, Springtide and is available for purchase through Calico Wallpaper.