by Maria Niarchos in New Design on Saturday 12 May 2012

These are neither digitally manipulated effects, nor white fluffy stuff suspended from the ceiling. Dutch artist Berndnaut Smilde has managed to work the seemingly impossible and bring these surreal indoor (real) clouds to life.

By using smoke, moisture and lighting, Smilde’s ephemeral creations hang about long enough only to photograph their existence. Suspended in the empty, somewhat austere surrounds, Smilde’s work presents this fascinating interplay between something beautifully ethereal yet unsettlingly eery. On another note, if you need time-out from the grind of your 9-5er, Smilde’s work justifies you to a little time spent head-in-the-clouds.