Bruno Munari: My Futurist Past at Estorick Collection

Bruno Munari, one of the most prolific and diverse artists of the 20th century is being celebrated with an exhibition at The Estorick Collection in London.

Image via The Estorick Collection

Using his involvement with the Futurist movement as a young man as a starting point, the exhibition focuses on the first half of his career. Useless machines, Dada Alphabets, advertising, graphic design, textile designs...they're all there. Diverse in style, it is hard to believe it is all the work of a single person.
 

Image via The Estorick Collection

The work of his advertising studio R+M (one of the first in Italy) revolutionised the field with photography and photomontage, at a time when images were hardly used in ads.

Ad in Campo Grafico magazine. Image via The Estorick Collection

His mobile sculptures pre-dated the more famous works of Alexander Calder - but he always rejected the comparisons between the two. Yes, they were both conceived at about the same time (in the 1930s) and both were hanging objects, but they were made of different materials and where Calder's work is organic, Munari's work is geometric and harmonious.

Never elitist, Munari's writing is used as a resource by young and old alike - his text Design As Art is used by artists and designers alike, while his ABC and ZOO illustrated books are clever learning tools for children (but secretly enjoyed by just as many adults).

         

Bruno Munari: My Futurist Past at The Estorick Collection until 23 December 2012.

SHOW RCA 2012

With the move to Battersea more or less complete, SHOW RCA has become a vast, sprawling event. 4 buildings in Battersea and 2 in Kensington Gore means you need your walking shoes on. The new Dyson Building is an impressive space, yet strangely empty, while the Design Products area felt a little hidden and cramped. There seemed to be several strange curatorial decisions with this years show, but perhaps that is simply a case of not being used to all this new space. Here are our Top 5 (in no particular order) from across the 2 venues:

1 Sam Weller Holdfast

Part of the team that made their own money in Milan, Sam Weller presented his own project Holdfast as part of Design Products. Inspired by the humble (but handy) workbench clamp, the metal elements for Holdfast are produced on a computer controlled machine and this single component can be used to form bookshelves, tables or stools.

2 Anton Alvarez The Art of Thread Wrapping 

Using his slightly odd but pleasingly home-made Thread Wrapping Machine, Anton Alvarez presented a whole series of objects, from stools, to benches to lights, all held together purely by glue coated thread. Each piece is unique as a result, a craft aesthetic with an industrial method. 

3 Évelie Moulia Untitled

A new jewellery collection shown in Kensington, this struck us for its utter simplicity yet innovation. Neat, sharp and precise, with the finest chains you are ever likely to have seen this held our attention for some time.

4 Jon Fraser WaterBuoy

Innovation Design Engineering projects had a decidedly social feel - simple ways to improve our communities and society. WaterBuoy is incredibly easy to install and communicates in a very simple, colourful way through "Droplets" how much water a household is consuming (and wasting!). Even though it may feel like it never stops raining, water is a scarce commodity and needs to be used with caution. WaterBuoy acts as a reminder each time we fill the kettle or run the washing machine and was a worthy winner of the Dyson Award. 

5 Stuart White and David Gibson Sharing Bin

Apart from their own projects, Stuart White and David Gibson collaborated on Sharing Bin, a closed network, ideal for creative places like art schools, where people can share the files in their computer's recycle bin. the idea is to encourage recycling and intellectual sharing. The item you have binned may not be the thing you needed, or may be obsolete in your work, but could be just the thing for someone else to spark their creativity. One mans rubbish is another mans gold. 

There was quite a strong social and even political focus in this years show, with an impromptu cafe set up in Kensington where people could sit, chat and share ideas or listen to talks and also a BUY/TRADE shop, where graduates accepted offers in the form of money or services for their work. A piece of art or design in exchange for some advice on setting up your own practise perhaps?

The political dimension came from Minjae Huh and the Future Without PSW project, protesting the governments decision to scrap Post-Study Work visas, which in effect means all students, who will have paid substantial fees to study in the UK, have to leave within 2 months of graduating. To support the protest, Minjae kindly pre-printed postcards addressed to  Damian Green MP. Are we seeing the start of a new overt political activism in our colleges?

  

Cory Arcangel for Studio Voltaire

New York artist Cory Arcangel (who had an installation at The Curve gallery in the Barbican in 2011) has created a limited edition screen print for Studio Voltaire in south London.

Taking a page torn from an art history book featuring one of Mondrian's Lozenge painting, which were intended to be hung in a diamond format, Arcangel has turned the page back 45°, thus reinstating the traditional square format.

Part of a series of works by artists such as Phyllida Barlow and Ryan Gander to make art affordable, the price will rise as the edition sells out. The first 50 prints are priced at £50, but the price will then start to rise (there are 150 prints in the edition). We suggest you get in early and place your orders here and support a wonderful arts charity at the same time. 

Stockholm Furniture Fair Highlights

Apart from Mitab and Ӧrsjӧ, which were of course major highlights of the Fair, there were plenty of other new designs vying for your attention.

David Design, originally founded by David Carlson, all but fell off the design scene in recent years, but is back, back, back with new investment and a new Atelier collection. The Shelf Lamp by Andreas Engesvik was a real gem, with squat dimensions that reminded us of the famous Eclisse by Vico Magistretti for Artemide. A naked light bulb on one side and a simple brass disc on the other providing glare protection, it was simplicity itself in concept and use of materials.

There seemed to be a micro-trend for "posh flat pack". Sweden is inexorably linked with flatpack furniture, so it is understandable they should try to elevate it to something desirable, as opposed to a chore. Heritage brand Klong presented the Horizon Collection, new (and some existing) products that can be delivered flat or assembled as the customer requests.  Ania Pauser's Knopp pendant is one of the first pieces designed specifically for the Horizon Collection, with existing products like the Nova chair from Asshoff & Brogård and Signum table from WIS Design also being re-branded part of the collection.  

Gemla was the epitome of the Swedish aesthetic. Vilda was designed by Jonas Bohlin for Restaurant AG and is a traditional bentwood chair in ash and leather seat. Nothing else, apart from a handgrip in soft leather and now with a backrest in leather or a removable leather slip-cover. The Front design superstars designed Collage, a chair and lounge chair based on forms taken from the Gemla archive. Archive tools and processes were also dusted off and combined with contemporary styling to form a....collage. 

Sticking with Gemla for a moment, it was a very pleasant surprise to see Jonas Bohlin's Kvist light in striking cobalt blue. Apparently they were hand-painted by the man himself especially for the occasion.

Photo courtesy of Holloway's of Ludlow

Asplund appear to be on a roll at the moment. Fresh from their win at the 2012 Wallpaper Design Awards for the Tati side tables, they presented the Luc series of cabinets by Broberg & Ridderstrӓle. Different formats in simple wooden finishes with transparent glass tops and a splash of colour on the legs. Daniel Rybakken's mesmerising lights which we first spotted back in April last year at Spazio Rosanna Orlandi are also now available from Asplund.

Colour was a major trend at this years show. Acid yellows and oranges mixed with pale sorbet colours, especially pink. Candy pink was everywhere, especially in combination with soft greys. If you remember the 80's, you'll know exactly what we mean. The other trend was for gloss finishes. Pink and glossy appears to be the future, for now at least. 

Montana

L-R: Stolab, Swedese, String

In the young designer area, Greenhouse, Carlsten Thostrup presented Reel Cabinet and Tie Desk. They say the devil is in the detail and in this instance, it was all about the detail. The sliding doors on Reel moved on large wheels, like a barn door and Tie was held closed by leather lacing wound around two large paper buttons. 

Norwegian based Thomas Jenkins of Studio Jenk presented "All Other Things Being Equal", a series of candlesticks in brass, aluminium and titanium. Each one weighs precisely 200g, but as each metal has a different density, the resulting candlesticks are different sizes.

In Cologne we spotted Domestica by Studio Formafantasma, and just weeks later in Stockholm Bjarke Frederiksen presented the Nordic Nomad Chair. Something in the air perhaps? 

Finally, in our whistle stop tour of the Fair, we were taken with the work of Kristine Five Melvær. Her Light Jars allow you to display your mini treasures, almost like a lab specimen, in beautifully crafted glass. A contemporary form of display cabinets. 

Plaza Magazine obviously agreed, as they awarded Kristine their young designers prize. We're pretty sure we'll see these Light Jars on a stand in the main Fair next year.

IMM Cologne Highlights

The prevailing trends at this years IMM were natural materials like wood, leather and marble and pale grey/brown background colours accented by a pop of fluorescent yellow or pastel and jewel tones.

Left: Müller Mӧbel, Centre and Right: Schonbuch

Mellow Daybed by Formstelle for Zeitraum

Das Haus by Doshi Levien was an update on the Ideal House concept and showcased their taste for the eclectic and colourful. A house crammed with design and arranged around a courtyard, classics by Alvar Aalto and Nelson sat alongside their own designs for Moroso, Authentics and Cappellini as well as pieces from e15 and Flos. You could also find some religious icons and family photos pinned to the walls. 

It was certainly more engaging than the surprisingly lacklustre Patricia Urquiola A&W Designer of the Year show in the city centre. Of more interest was Patricia's decision to pass the baton, via the Mentor Award to young British designer du jour Benjamin Hubert. He is certainly making a name for himself in the international design world.

The Ineke Hans Collection was shown in the Pure Village area. Simple rough wooden planks, almost as if they had been recycled from pallets were fixed to precision metal joints and painted in candy colours to provide a cheerful and almost childlike alternative to the slick designs elsewhere.

 

Studio Kepenic attracted some blog attention even before the fair, with a post appearing on the influential Dailytonic for their new Plug&Play series. A simple idea of how to make flat-pack furniture less of a chore, Plug&Play comes with 2 sets of beautifully turned wooden legs - a main set and a second extension set which enables you to turn your coffee table into a dining table with ease.

  
Finally, a mention to Richard Lampert who revitalised their classic Hirche lounge chair from 1953 (shown below in the outdoor version) and showed it alongside Dish's Island by Alexander Seifried.

So, as the door closes on IMM Cologne for another year, we're keeping our luggage close to hand. Next stop Stockholm!

IMM Cologne - D3 Design Talents

D3 Design Talents returned to IMM Cologne to give young designers, mostly recent graduates, a chance to be seen alongside (and potentially be seen by) the established brands. This years talent came from across Europe and even Canada. The UK was represented by both Magnus Pettersen and International, a design studio formed by Northumbria University graduates Marc Bell and Robin Grasby. International presented Apollo, a modular lighting system designed to be modified by the user. The 4 profiles (available in solid and perforated anodised aluminium) can be arranged around a standard screw cap lamp holder. Apollo was awarded 3rd place in the Interior Innovation/D3 contest. 

Staying with all things light, Canadian Lukas Peet showed Spotlight in 3 different sizes. Suspended by their electrical cord which wrapped around and squeezed the lights, forming a waist, Spotlight illuminates both the floor and the ceiling. 

  
Miya Kondo presented Composition Light, a series of leaning light objects, which create and frame a space. Placing them at different angles casts different forms of light and shade.

Second Prize in the Interior Innovation Award went to Listen to Your Hands by Lee Sanghyeok, a puzzle for grown-ups. A desk in walnut, the top is stacked with cubes of different volumes. Each one is a drawer and as you close one drawer, another opens. Which one it will be is anyone's guess! Using the lightest of touch will close all of the drawers, as if to say sometimes delicacy is needed and sometimes if you want to achieve something a little effort is required.


Listen to your hands from Sanghyeok Lee on Vimeo.


Studio Formafantasma, based in The Netherlands are arguably the rising stars of the design world. Indeed, they have been anointed by Paola Antonelli and Alice Rawsthorn as one of the 20 designers who "will influence design in the next decade". They presented Domestica, a low chair cum survival pack. Inspired by Gerla baskets, traditionally used by farmers to carry harvested crops, Domestica could potentially be a portable home but its new function is left undefined for the user to decide.

Martin Solem showed Daddy Longlegs, winner as the Blueprint Best New Product award at 100% Design London in September. Simple, elegant, entirely functional and a pop of colour, it won't be long before you see these in a restaurant or bar near you.  

Also notable was Lamp by Sebastian Goldschmidtbӧing, a bowl and rod in copper. The light sources is enclosed by a transparent diffuser while the rod invites attention. It almost begs to be touched. 

In fact, too many of the entries were worthy of a mention to describe them all here, so we have compiled them into an album over on our Facebook page.

A bit of France in Miami

On the hectic week of Design Miami and Art Basel we made a happy detour to the Wolfsonian Institute to visit 'Liberty, Equality and Fraternity'. Curated by Matali Crasset, with exhibition design by M/M Paris, the show plots the influence of French design from the 1940's to the present day.

Featuring works by Jean Prouve, Philippe Starck, the Bouroullec brothers, Pierre Paulin and Michel Ducaroy, the exhibition explores the impact of design - its creation, dissemination and the resulting shift in French social ideals. Film presentations ran alongside the main gallery displays including edited clips from the wonderful 'Playtime' by Jacques Tati (below) and 'L'enfer' by Henri-Georges Clouzot.

We particularly loved the staged installation formatted by Crasset and designed by M/M Paris. Boldly painted in the colours of the French Tricolour and assembled to serve as stools, plinths and barriers. Based on Swiss-born French architect Le Corbusier's 'Modulor', 'a measuring system derived from the proportions of the human body', the pieces are available to buy from the Wolfsonian (and funnily enough, they are on the Relay Christmas wish-list).