Noeuds Marins Holds the Memory of a Sailor’s Knot
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, August 2026 - Hurtaud presents Noeuds Marins (Glass Knot), a sculptural light shaped from a single maritime knot.
The figure-eight is a stopper knot. It keeps a rope from slipping, yet releases easily when the work is done. Hurtaud grew up in Brittany, where this is practical knowledge, not decoration: a knot secures a boat to a cleat, joins two ropes or holds a line under tension. Noeuds Marins takes that working form and fixes it. Resin instead of rope. A line held, rather than a line in use.
When lit, the knot casts a braided shadow across the wall. The shadow moves as the viewer does, while the object remains still.
“I learned to tie a knot before I learned to write. A knot is usually made by hand, then untied. I like the idea of the rope disappearing while the gesture stays.”
The piece was developed through physical knot studies before being digitally modelled, prototyped and cast. Each stage preserved the tension of the original gesture while adapting the form for wall mounting, freestanding display and illumination. Noeuds Marins is produced as a limited edition and marks the beginning of a wider study of maritime knots that the studio intends to continue.
About François Hurtaud Design
François Hurtaud Design is a boutique industrial design and brand strategy studio founded in Hong Kong in 2013, with studios in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Hong Kong. The studio develops physical products, brand identities and digital experiences for consumer brands, combining design strategy, technical development and a practical approach to making.
Its work has received international recognition including Red Dot, German Design Award, A’ Design Award and Good Design Award. François Hurtaud is a Certified Industrial Designer (CiDe) with the Malaysia Design Council.
