Rive Roshan

photo by Dunja Opalko

Rive Roshan is a dynamic artistic practice co-founded by Ruben de la Rive Box (b. 1981, Netherlands) and Golnar Roshan (b. 1986, Iran-Australia), known for creating immersive installations and collectible art objects that engage the senses and challenge perceptions of space, light, and materiality. Since its founding in 2013, the duo has developed a distinctive body of work that blends art, design, and architecture, pushing boundaries and exploring new forms of artistic expression.

The studio’s practice is driven by a deep curiosity about the world and a desire to create experiences that provoke reflection and inspire imagination. Through their projects, they aim to foster a deeper connection between people and their surroundings, offering audiences new ways of engaging with the spaces they inhabit. This is achieved through the innovative use of light, color, materials, and spatial design, which together create environments that shift and transform as viewers move through them.

Artistic Philosophy and Techniques

Rive Roshan’s work often involves a sophisticated interplay of light and material to evoke shifting moods and perspectives. Inspired by the natural world—such as the rippling of water, sand shaped by wind, and light reflecting off surfaces—their installations create a multi-sensory experience that draws viewers into a contemplative state. Their installations feature materials like glass, textiles, and resin, which are manipulated to create fluid and ever-changing visual effects.

Their philosophy centers around curiosity and wonder. They believe that art and design have the potential to shift perspectives and inspire new ways of seeing the world, thus contributing to a more progressive future. For Rive Roshan, the boundary between art and functional design is fluid, and they seamlessly integrate these disciplines to create objects and installations that are both practical and thought-provoking.

Notable Works and Projects

Rive Roshan’s innovative approach has earned them recognition in the global art and design community. Some of their most notable works include:

"Shifting Perspectives" (2021), exhibited at Museum JAN in Amstelveen, Netherlands. This immersive exhibition played with the relationship between light, reflection, and space, offering visitors a unique visual journey that explored how natural forces shape materials over time. The exhibition created environments that challenged viewers' perceptions and offered new ways of seeing the world around them
"Stilled Life": Presented during Dutch Design Week and London Design Festival, this installation explored how light interacts with materials, using abstract forms to create a poetic dialogue between reflection, transparency, and color.
"Ripples": An installation that utilized textured glass and colored light to evoke the tranquil, flowing movements of water. This work was featured at the Milan Design Week and drew attention for its delicate play on light and texture.

Education

Ruben de la Rive Box studied Interaction Design at HKU University of the Arts Utrecht.
Golnar Roshan earned degrees in Visual Communication and Design from the University of Technology, Sydney.

International Exhibitions and Collections