Distinct designs come together at Hpix gallery
Ceramics by Industreal. Provided by the gallery
Contemporary gallery shop Hpix has handpicked furniture, artwork and crafts from three European brands: Thorsten Van Elten, a London-based furniture, lighting and accessories manufacturer; Industreal, an Italian maker of high-quality ceramics; and Donna Wilson, a Scottish designer of knitted toys.
While the three brands seemingly go in separate directions, playing with distinctly different media and styles, Helena Park, managing director of Hpix, saw one thing in common: They all like to “design out of the box.”
“Each and every piece tells a story,” she said. “While famous brands tend to enforce their overall concept or idea to their designers, these brands gave so much freedom to their designers that they could really go back to basics and express their wildest dreams. That is how these creative and fun pieces could be born.”
“War Bowl,” designed by Dominic Wilcox, is a good example of the experimental designs of Thorsten Van Elten. From afar, it just looks like a huge bowl with an extremely rough surface. But look closer and you’ll spot tiny toy soldiers ready to do battle. It is made of melted plastic model soldiers from the Battle of Waterloo and English Civil War.
“I wanted to create a new material that would work on more levels than the usual qualities such as texture and functionality,” the designer said on his Web site. “My aim was to make a material that had a voice of its own, not just a passive lifeless thing.”
Icon Magazine recognized Thorsten Van Elten’s attempts to discover and encourage young designers in September 2006. In May that year its shop was also voted No. 19 in London’s “100 Hottest Shops” by Time Out magazine.
Meanwhile, Industreal’s ceramic vases, bowls and lighting are a meeting of technology and aesthetics. “Fingerbowl,” designed by Judith Seng, is a large bowl with a fingerprint pattern. The designer sought to highlight the fingerprint as a symbol of trust.
“Kids-Rock” by Alexander Taylor
“European Contemporary Design and Craft” runs until May 11 at Gallery KONG in Jongno, Seoul. For more information call (02) 718-1226 or visit www.hpix.co.kr.
By Kim Hyung-eun Staff Reporter [hkim@joongang.co.kr]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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