Blending reverence for the past with a thoughtful gaze toward the present, Past and Present Reflections is a collaborative piece that explores the emotional and material echoes of heritage. Created by Sehar, Navya, Cheshta, and Baizhen Pan, the work received the Silver Award in the 2025 Summer Season of the Future Art & Design Award UK, and was made possible through a meaningful partnership with Retrouvius, who generously provided salvaged materials through the RCA. At the heart of the project lies a salvaged vintage stained-glass window—an artifact full of character and history. “We didn’t want to overpower or alter it,” the team explains. “Instead, we asked how we might preserve its beauty through careful duplication—inviting a quiet conversation between what was and what is.”
The creative process involved tracing and reinterpreting the glass patterns using frosted white acrylic—a deliberate choice to evoke presence without imitation. The frosted finish blurred boundaries between memory and modernity, giving the piece a timeless, contemplative quality. Through these ghostly echoes of pattern, light, and form, the team invites viewers to reflect on themes of presence, absence, and material continuity.
One of the most exciting discoveries came from working closely with the stained glass itself. “The delicate details revealed through tracing felt like uncovering forgotten stories,” they recall. Past and Present Reflections sits firmly within broader conversations in contemporary art about sustainability, heritage preservation, and reinterpretation. Rather than viewing reuse as simply functional, the team repositions it as poetic—where replication becomes a form of respect.
Full Interview
1. Could you let us know a bit more about yourself and what inspired you to pursue a career in design?
I’ve loved drawing since I was a child. In high school, I discovered a magazine about woodworking and furniture design, which sparked my interest in materials and spaces. That led me to study Environmental Design at university, and I ’ve been working in interior design ever since.
2. What was the initial inspiration behind this project? Was there a specific idea, moment, or question that sparked its development?
When I received the vintage stained-glass window, I wanted to re-create it without damaging its beauty. I started thinking about duplication and how to use that as a way to reflect on time and memory.
3. What was the most exciting or challenging part of creating the work?
The most exciting part was discovering how delicate and rich the glass patterns were. We traced the designs, tested different acrylic colors and opacities, and finally chose frosted white acrylic to reproduce the patterns.
4. Your work invites reflection on presence, absence, and reinterpretation. How do you see Past and Present Reflections fitting into broader conversations about heritage, memory, or material continuity in contemporary art?
This project explores how we can preserve beauty through respectful duplication. It connects with broader conversations around memory, heritage, and the invisible presence of the past in modern design.
5. How was your experience taking part in the Future Art & Design Award UK?
It’s been a great experience. The award gave me a chance to reflect on my work and share my creative journey. Thank you for the opportunity!
