A boy and his play with wood - Vito Selma

Vito Selma is a Filipino designer who, although very young, can boast that his work has been purchased by the likes of the Princess of Malaysia, Saudi royalty and Nelson Mandela. Seemingly intricate but simple in essence, his designs are dynamic, flowing, linear or abrupt waves made of wood. Selma did not achieve these feats alone. As he says time and time again, he has forged a long-standing partnership with wood that allows him to experiment, create and explore, pushing the limits of the material with each creation.

Wood always has something to say and must be allowed to express itself

Growing up in a family of traditional Filipino furniture makers, Vito Selma is strongly influenced by his artisan practice. His art is a happy blend of tradition and knowledge gained in recognized design schools or working with famous designers.

It all started in his parents' factory where traditional furniture was made by hand. Because everything had to be perfect there was a lot of material that was considered waste. It was this material that attracted Vito. He always felt that wood had something to say and should be allowed to express itself.

Discovering her passion, Selma began her specialized studies at the San Francisco Academy of Art. She continued with a master's degree in industrial design at Milan Polytechnic School of Design. Years of working with renowned designers - Debbi Palao, George Haast, Raffaella Mangiarotti and the Campana Brothers - followed, molding him without affecting his originality. Vito has become a clear and distinctive voice in the designer furniture industry, his notoriety continually growing.

When asked about the geometry found in his work, Vito Selma says that it all stems from a childhood love of mathematics. About himself he says he was even a nerd as a child. And now he believes that everything in the world is math. And this love for math is translated into design and helps him to do all the calculations for a new work.

Vito Selma's creations are simple and inspired by the natural forms of wood with sometimes unexpected lines. There are no unnecessary embellishments or additions, the wood is presented as it is. It's about that partnership with wood that he always remembers. That partnership that is a boy playing with wood.

Although his hard work and ingenuity have led him to numerous awards at home and abroad, Vito Selma has remained grounded, firmly rooted in his Filipino roots. He lives in Cebu, Philippines, and his creations are on display in Ayala Center Cebu, the city's largest shopping mall.