Floor Space

On the eve of design’s most anticipated fairs of the year you can guarantee an art collaboration release is not too far behind. The rise of the artist collaboration within the worlds of utility and practicality, at least for the most part, has proved to be a successful formula providing consumers a veneer of the conceptual onto objets of the everyday.

The Salone Internazionale del Mobile di Milano launches this week and will showcase the best in furniture design and home styling from both Italy and around the world. Gothenburg-based Henzel Studio is one such exhibitor who will be presenting an exclusive collection of art rug editions in collaboration with leading contemporary artists. The Swedish luxury label has worked with twelve international artists on its ‘Volume #1’ collection. Assume Vivid Astro Focus, Marilyn Minter, Richard Prince and Juergen Teller are a few of the names who have defied conventional right-angle styles for more elaborate and curious compositions that will detract eyes from the wall firmly to the floor. 

Untitled, 2012 - Anselm Reyle

The abstract aesthetic of Anselm Reyle is a fine example of how successful an artwork can be translated through alternate media, particularly within the realm of interior design. Reyle’s Untitled, 2012 contribution to the collection is a replica of the artist’s gathered foil style imagery inspired by his series of paintings, which has been directly reworked in both design and structure onto a free-from monochrome rug, hand knotted in Himalayan and New Zealand wool and silk. The result is an almost three-dimensional effect of luminous folds in the pile that makes for a contemporary decorative statement. 

The Henzel Studio Collaborations series will debut in Milan at Superstudio Più before an official launch at Barneys New York Madison Avenue flagship during Frieze New York in May later this year. For more information about all the artists involved in the ‘Volume #1’ collection visit Henzel Studio.

Salone Internazionale del Mobile di Milano opens tomorrow and runs through to 13th April 2014 - click here for full details of exhibitors and events throughout the week.

Image courtesy of Henzel Studio

Sign Of The Times

The breaks are slowly being applied on China’s enthusiasm for art and with greater global economic uncertainty, the official opening of Frieze Art Fair today will test the strength of the art market as collectors and investors descend onto London this week. 

It’s perhaps no surprise that the artist who holds the world record for sales by a living artist at auction in 2008 has decided to freeze time before the situation gets any worse. In collaboration with Italian luxury watchmakers Panerai, Damien Hirst unveils two new paintings in the exhibition, O’Clock. Time Design, Design Time held at Milan’s centre for contemporary Italian industrial design, La Triennale di Milano. 

Beautiful Sunflower and Beautiful Fractional Sunflower take the form of Hirst’s now-iconic spin paintings with the addition of Panerai watch faces, sans hands, that are scattered across the canvas. While this latest Hirst collaboration lacks the aesthetic quality of previous partnerships – I would have liked to see the black watch faces covered in paint – the in motion versus timeless concept creates a sense of not knowing whether we’re coming or going, a vortex of uncertainty: a sign of the times. 

O’Clock. Time Design, Design Time runs at La Triennale di Milano until January 8th 2012.

Triennale di Milano

6 Viale Alemagna

20121

Milan, Italy

Paint The Town Yellow

This week inspiration reference Cool Hunting documents my champagne du gout - Veuve Clicquot - with their domination at Milan Design Week this month. With a series of Pop-up shops and showrooms, partnerships with hotels, lounges and bars and even a campaign on Milan's trams it was impossible for any Milanese to miss Veuve's aptly named Yellow Project that featured across the city's hotspots.

Clicq'd Up, Mathias van de Walle

The vraiment triomphe however, was the collaboration with Belgian designer Mathias van de Walle and his incredible and utilitarian champagne bucket, Clicq'd Up, that was very much in keeping with the company's mobile campaign. Inspired by origami structure, the bucket transform from pack flat to ice-to-go - perfect for every eventuality when one needs champers on the move.

Click here for more details on the various Yellow Projects at Milan Design Week 2011 here.