indesignlive.com’s UK Editor, Alexi Robinson reports on ’Design Art’ at Amanda Levete’s first solo exhibition in London.
March 13th, 2008
Alexi Robinson is indesignlive’s UK editor. An Aussie expat living in London, working for design legend Tom Dixon, who better to send us a fortnightly report on ever dynamic design scene over the sea.
On an icy February evening, a group of London’s design elite huddled on the pavement to be granted entry and in turn, marvel in wonderment at Amanda Levete’s first solo exhibition for British manufacturer Established & Sons. Set against white walls and even whiter light, Around the Corner as a collection of four limited edition furniture pieces attempts to pierce the otherwise vacant space that occupies the corner of a room.
Draped in conceptual rationale from perception to the poetic imagination, Around the Corner flourishes in its original approach to spatial disharmony and in doing so sits fittingly within the food chain of high-end curator to clientele.
South, as a single piece of black marble resting deceptively on one leg, and the multiple zeros it inspires, bares resemblance to a galleried sculpture carved from its heaving mass and projected into objectification.
Design art has certainly arrived upon us, and with its emergence into the furniture establishment comes a new wave of theoretical debate surrounding its reddening appeal and longevity.
In the context of Levete’s latest creations, I find myself asking why few corner objects pre-exist and why I would not be devastated if even less were conceived. The notion that the corner of a room is a rigid if not offensive interaction rather than the quiet convergence of planes imparting volume is not necessarily a given. To occupy corners with objects to help liberate their ostracised standing in spatial hierarchy transfers to the neighbouring available space a similar immobility. The now lonely stretch of wall how confused it must be.
Just how far beyond the manifestation of ideas must design art go?
Does the allure for collectors lie not within the refinement of ideas and innovation but in the ever-present grey areas that stretch across reason and functionality? As long as design art objects continue to command such dissection so too will they continue to entice shivering on the street to catch a glimpse.
Alexi’s ’Design Opinion’ pieces are uploaded once a fortnight. Keep an eye out for the next piece at the end of March.
A searchable and comprehensive guide for specifying leading products and their suppliers
Keep up to date with the latest and greatest from our industry BFF's!
Savage Design’s approach to understanding the relationship between design concepts and user experience, particularly with metalwork, transcends traditional boundaries, blending timeless craftsmanship with digital innovation to create enduring elegance in objects, furnishings, and door furniture.
Create a configuration to suit your needs with this curved collection.
Channelling the enchanting ambience of the Caffè Greco in Rome, Budapest’s historic Gerbeaud, and Grossi Florentino in Melbourne, Ross Didier’s new collection evokes the designer’s affinity for café experience, while delivering refined seating for contemporary hospitality interiors.
Sub-Zero and Wolf’s prestigious Kitchen Design Contest (KDC) has celebrated the very best in kitchen innovation and aesthetics for three decades now. Recognising premier kitchen design professionals from around the globe, the KDC facilitates innovation, style and functionality that pushes boundaries.
Whoever said blue and green should never be seen? The Budapest Café is inspired by Director Wes Anderson’s distinctive visual style and Melbourne’s signature café culture.
XIMULA is one of Singapore’s most successful furniture exports and represents the growing importance of this International design mecca.
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
Focusing on facade and green design, this pair of office blocks is designed to meet the most contemporary demands of workplace design.
Overcoming pandemic hurdles to redefine guest experiences amidst Sydney’s bustling entertainment precinct, The Darling has undergone a two-year restoration that melds Art Deco interiors with the necessities of hotel living.