Ball is Life — Coffee Table

A functional sculpture by Nigel VMU, translating the language of sport into a domestic object.

Crafted in walnut wood, the table features a circular top supported by three sculpted basketball forms — each carved and integrated as structural legs. The familiar geometry of the ball is preserved, but reinterpreted through a refined material palette and softened sculptural finish.

The piece explores the idea of ball as foundation — not only in sport, but in culture, identity, and everyday life. What is typically an object of movement becomes one of stability. The energy of play is grounded, held, and repurposed into function.

Through material and form, Nigel VMU bridges utility and narrative. The warmth of walnut contrasts with the graphic segmentation of the basketball, creating a balance between precision and tactility. Each element is both recognisable and re-authored, shifting perception from object to artefact.

As part of Art of Living, the work reflects a broader philosophy: that the objects we live with can carry deeper cultural meaning. Here, sport is no longer something you step into — it becomes something you live with.