Hang it All-Hang it Big

Not sure why Colette have suddenly picked up on this piece by Ruby Anemic as its a few years old now. But hey, the the Eames 'Hang it All' is an absolute classic, very beautiful and totally functional, so any excuse to see this huge version is fine by me. They are for sale, there are 53, and will be exhibited at Colette from 31st Jan.

Richard Nicholson

Nice segue into this from the last post. Richard Nicholson is currently showing at the Riflemaker gallery. Exploring and cataloging the demise of the hidden world of the Darkroom in and around london. Out of the 214 that existed when he started in 2006, apparently only six survive so the timing of this idea was vital. The whole show looks pretty cool, you can record and cut your own mono vinyl record in thirty minutes, and there is work from Zigelbaum & Coelho too.

Kikkerland

With the amazing Cornish sunshine at the moment I was inspired to put together one of my Christmas presents, the Kikkerland pin hole camera. This was not as easy as the instructions made out, but very satisfying once it was finished. Only the actual pin hole is punched in a small metal plate, the rest is made entirely of paper, but it takes real 35mm film! I will post some of the images when i get them developed.

38 Degrees

Quite why David Cameron thinks it's a good idea to sell off every square inch of Forest is totally beyond me. But, you can do something about it! So please sign the 38 Degrees petition here, and spread the word, it's a very important issue.

Parquet Table

 

Emma is responsible for finding this number (cheers), an oversized Chevron Parquet table top.

Nendo

Brilliant stuff from Nendo.
"Outlines were the theme of the exhibition. Slight black lines like the traces of sketches drawn in the air made transparent surfaces and volumes appear, which we assigned practical functions. The outlines remained after simplifying paintings of plants and animals. They are condensed expressions of meaning, similar to Japanese calligraphy. The designs gently break the relationship of before and behind, and traverse at times the space between two and three dimensions. Multi-faceted and constantly morphing, they move alternately between the becoming and collapse of form."

Outdoor Table

First ideas for the leg configuration of an upcoming commission, for a outdoor dining table.

Christoph Thetard

Very cool kitchen machine from Christoph Thetard. I am very into cooking, cannot live without fresh coffee, and like saving electricity, so this really appeals to me. It's virtuous usefulness aside, it is just a very beautiful, engineered object. Also, there is just so little to go wrong, and i think you could develop a very strong relationship with this over time. Not something you can say about most kitchen appliances.

Maaike Anne Stevens

 More interesting photography, this time Maaike Anne Stevens.
"In the process of visual perception I try to capture the fraction of a second that precedes the action of categorising..."
I like this idea a lot, the brilliant moments between confusion and knowing. For example, catching a glimpse of a building around a corner is often far more interesting than the building when you see it in its totality. It's the moment your eye and brain are trying to make sense of the information but it's also a moment in which you can imagine and dream. Inventing you own world for a split second.

Alex Bradley

Rocket Gallery

New stock of Mid-Century Modern furniture at the Rocket Gallery.

Grainger to Gilbert & George

 A couple of exhibitions to keep in mind. Firstly, one of the rising stars in the art world, Karen Grainger. Grainger is currently exploring the 150 year old 'Wet Collodion' photographic process and is exhibiting at Wieden & Kennedy in London. Good little Interview with her here.
Secondly, the old guard, Gilbert & George are back at the White Cube, and as always, will be worth a look. Catch a short BBC interview with them here.

Mischler Traxler

 

I have not had a chance to fully investigate Mischler Traxler's site yet, there is loads of stuff on there, but i like what i see. From low tech furniture arrangements, to the re-use of old porcelain plates to conceptual investigations into growth and solar energy. Their latest project involved the connection of two old lamps by a fluorescent tube. I love the tension in these peices, where poseable lights become fixed, unable to move, in each others glare. The composition of the image above immediately reminded me of seeing Botticelli's 'Annuciation' in Florence some years back. I always imagined light being beamed between the two outstretched hands, such is the immense tension in the painting. (If you ever get a chance to go and see it, DO! It is astonishing.)

Dare Studio

Good styling with this opening shot on the Studio Dare site. Whilst I am not won over on all of the collection, there is interest everywhere. Dare obviously like to mix materials, which i like, but their most successful piece for me is the more refined, all metal, tube light.

Studio Pepe

Very cool looking preview site for Studio Pepe. There seems to be real attention and respect paid towards the objects they are shooting here, and i look forward to seeing more soon.

Jagnefaltmilton

 

Hot from winning the open international prize organised by the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland, Jagnefaltmilton follow up with their masterplan for the moving city of Åndalsnes, in Norway.

"... where existing and new rail roads would provide the base for new building that could be rolled back and forth depending on seasons and situations. Amongst other they propose a rolling hotel, a rolling public bath and a rolling concert hall.....and did not propose new city blocks,

public squares, boardwalks etcetera, but instead focused entirely on the existing rail road
network and created something unexpected from it"

This is obviously pure concept at the moment but there are big themes at play here; ideas of re-interpretation of infrastructure, comment on the pace of life, questioning how we travel whilst also looking at the mental health and social implications of cities.

All this, and more, and the company is barely a year old!

Droog Las Vegas

 

I have to say this confuses me somewhat, but Droog have just opened a new store on the main strip in Las Vegas. A highly conceptual, ethically aware European design collective plonked in the illuminated desert oasis? Hey, its Droog, they are brilliant, so there must be a plan here. The fact that they really are NOT supposed to be there is probably enough.

Happy New Year!

Very nice to be back after a little break, looking forward to 2011 with renewed freshness.
Firstly, heads up, the Grand Designs house i featured on last year is having another airing, this time in 2D in the accompanying Grand Designs Magazine. No idea what it will be like, (i don't get to see it before it hit the shelves), but not long to wait, as it's out later in the week, in the February edition.
As well as the normal blog stuff there are some very interesting things on the drawing board at the moment, a Hotel refurbishment, a tasty little Barn conversion kitchen, and a Gallery re-fit amongst many others. Then it's head down organising and making all the work for my own (independent) exhibition during London Design Week in September.
All that, and i am getting Married!  So stick with me, it might be fun.
In true 'one to look for in 2011' style, the image starting you off is Stefan Diezs' re-interpretation of industrial 'Dexion' shelving.  OK, Diez is already very well known, but i expect a lot, lot more goodness from him this year.