Now in its fifth year, the SuperDesign event returns with a collective exhibition of specially commissioned studio pieces by both well known and emerging designers, taking place at The Dairy in Bloomsbury.

SUPERDESIGN, 13th-17th October 2011

THE DAIRY

7a Wakefield Street, London WC1N 1PG

SuperDesign seeks to emphasise the current synergy between design and the visual arts with inventive displays that present contemporary design in a fresh light. Yearly, this show brings together collections from leading galleries and international designers at a crucial time in the art calendar year, during Frieze Art Fair.

Galleries include The Apartment, Nilufar, Spring Projects and Vessel Gallery.

SuperDesign, devised by gallerist Patrick Brillet, has cemented its reputation as an important exhibition of contemporary design-art pieces. The event is open both to the general public and to an audience of international collectors, critics and designers.

After the success of their inaugural ‘For Love & Haiti’ exhibition in 2010, Darkroom‘s Valentine charity exhibition returns in 2011 featuring artworks based on the heart, donated by an array of Darkroom designers and artist friends.

LOVE FROM DARKROOM, 2nd-14th February 2011

DARKROOM

52 Lamb’s Conduit Street, London WC1N 3LL (020 7831 7244)

In the 2010 exhibition, Darkroom sent the profits from the sale of artworks to the Haiti earthquake appeal. For 2011, they will donate the profits from the exhibition, titled ‘Love from Darkroom,’ to the Kids Company charity that works with vulnerable and neglected young people across London.

All pieces are exhibited at Darkroom and sold to the public for a set price of £150.

A wide variety of over 40 talented artists, designers, photographers and illustrators have created works including Philip Treacy (milliner), Katie Hillier (accessory designer), Carolyn Massey (fashion designer), Patternity (designers), Multistorey (graphic designers), Frank (furniture/product designers), Hannah Martin (jewellery designer), Despina Curtis (stylist), Nick Bond (menswear designer), Lynn Cockburn (knitwear designer) and Bill Woodrow (sculptor).

Undoubtedly, the perfect Valentine’s gift for a fantastic cause. If you cannot attend the exhibition, you can still donate to the Kids Company – click on this link.

Images, from top: artworks by Corrie Williamson; Rob Ryan; Kuni Awai; Carolyn Massey.

Displayed during the Frieze Art Fair, contemporary ‘design art’ exhibition Super Design returns for its fourth year. Set within the imposing venue of Victoria House, the exhibition brings together collections from leading international galleries and designers at a crucial time in the art calendar year.

SUPER DESIGN, 14th-17th October 2010

Victoria House, Bloomsbury Square, London WC1B 4DA

Spread over 1,500 sqm of exhibition space, Super Design features specially commissioned, unique and limited edition pieces from world-class international galleries including The Apartment, D&A-Lab, Mitterrand-Cramer, Tom Dixon, Gallerie Van Der Straeten, Quadridge, and Vessel Gallery among others.

Devised by gallery owner Patrick Brillet of The Apartment, Super Design is a carefully curated event designed to showcase the far-reaching capabilities of producers and designers and the inspiring collaborations that exist between the two.

Talents on show this year include Brodie Neil, Philip Michael Wolfson, Marcus Tremonto, Emmanuel Babled, Maarten Baas, Studio Job, Campana Brothers, Tom Dixon, Herve Van Der Straeten, Michael Young, Olgoj Chorchoj, and Jonathan Monk.

The event is open daily from 10am-6pm and is free entry.

Images, from top: Michael Young installation for The Apartment; The Low Table Collection by Jonathan Monk; Cristalloide by Herve Van Der Straeten; Reverb Wire Chair by Brodie Neil; Origami Mirror Chair by Philip Michael Wolfson; Kasimir Console by Herve Van Der Straeten.

A call to update Mr Henry Wellcome’s curious collection with ‘things’ no bigger than your head makes for a dynamic and constantly changing exhibition. Things is devised by artist Keith Wilson and takes place at Wellcome Collection.

‘THINGS’, 12th – 22nd October 2010

WELLCOME COLLECTION

183 Euston Road, London, NW1 2BE (020 7611 2222)

Wellcome Collection is calling on the public to loan or donate objects and become co-creators of its new temporary exhibition, Things. Members of the public are invited to deposit an object they own in a bring-a-thing-athon over seven days between 12th and 19th October. The object can be any single thing they own, be it special or boring, rare or common. The only stipulation is that it must be no bigger than their head.

Things reveals an ever-changing modern cabinet of curiosities that reflects on the meaning of objects, their relationship with time and how they relate to one another in different settings. In a constant state of flux, the exhibition asks us also to look at the things in the present while projecting them into the future, anticipating how the visitors of tomorrow might make sense of them – a kind of anthropology of the here and now.

The expansive nature of the exhibition-cum-event intends to mirror Henry Wellcome’s collection itself. Wellcome – entrepreneur, philanthropist, patron of science, pioneer and compulsive collector – had a universal interest in health and the body, which has resulted in a stunning anthropological collection that sheds light on humanity with a diverse range of cultural artefacts.

The Architectural Association (AA) School’s ‘Projects Review’ exhibition offers an opportunity to see the past year’s work of 650 students from this international school of architecture. The exhibition takes place within new buildings and spaces around Bedford Square which have been acquired by the AA over the past year.

PROJECTS REVIEW 2010, 26th June-17th July 2010

ARCHITECTURAL ASSOCIATION SCHOOL

26 Bedford Square, London WC1B 3ES (020 7887 4111)

The exhibition includes hundreds of drawings, models, installations and photographs alongside large 1:1 working prototypes, interactive media and performances; all of which provide a snapshot of the latest thinking, experimentation and invention underway within the AA School.

This summer, Darkroom is going colourful with their latest in-store event, titled Into Africa. Kicking off in April, the showcase explores modernist interpretations of indigenous Africa textiles, jewellery and art.

INTO AFRICA, launches 22nd April 2010

DARKROOM

52 Lamb’s Conduit Street, London WC1N 3LL (020 7831 7244)

Darkroom owners Rhonda Drakeford and Lulu Roper-Calderbeck have handpicked a selection of designs and showpieces by various talented designers, which are displayed alongside pieces from Darkroom’s own collections.

Designs include a limited edition range of laptop and pouch bags by Harris Elliott, a range of hats made from vibrant Africa cotton by Noel Stewart, limited edition prints from David David‘s archive of bold geometric patterns, jewellery pieces by Florian and Corrie Williamson, as well as a range of leather wallets in vibrant colours by menswear designer Kenneth MacKenzie of 6876.

Darkroom is also extending their self-designed ranges to include slouch bags, leather purses and sculptural cushions.

Darkroom is a directional new store now open on the characterful Lamb’s Conduit Street in Bloomsbury. The store comprises a curated mix of interior and fashion accessories alongside bi-monthly art and sculpture exhibitions.

DARKROOM

52 Lamb’s Conduit Street, London WC1N 3LL (020 7831 7244)

The store is a play on materials, scale, and form. Oversize plaited quilted scarves resemble eiderdowns whilst jewellery made from chunky rope evoke curtain tiebacks. Alongside this, leather accessories take strong influences from saddlery, and oversize trims such as heavy fringing and chains feature strongly.

The interior accessories explore the diverse materials, textures, and production techniques of clothing or jewellery. The boundaries between art and design are questioned by functional pieces that also hold sculptural qualities – a necklace may be worn traditionally or hung on the wall as an objet d’art.

As these images suggest, the store’s visual presentation comprises graphic forms, rich textures, and bold architectural concepts. Products are grouped to create tension and dialogue rather than by genre – a beautiful bag sits alongside a vase or lampshade that shares a similar aesthetic or material.

Darkroom has been set up by Rhonda Drakeford and Lulu Roper-Caldbeck, who come from graphic and fashion backgrounds respectively. 

Images courtesy of Darkroom.

EDITOR’S COMMENTS:

It’s fantastic that Lamb’s Conduit Street has a new independent retail offering to join the street’s other visionary outlets. The cosy location is quintessential ‘Old London’ and lends itself perfectly as a contrasting backdrop for the Darkroom concept.

It is that word – concept – that has been rather jarringly used to describe this store. The connotations are all wrong. In my experience, a ‘concept store’ is an unfortunate term inflicted upon retailers that are normally style over substance and don’t quite fit into a definable retail genre. Such outlets are all very well but can quite often be a mish-mash of expensive unrelated stuff trying ever-so-hard to be frightfully cool. Cynics would say, such places are the right way for dearest to wipe out daddy’s trust fund. 

With that said, I would like to rid Darkroom of such a title. This place has a clear point of view and a vision. It has been put together with hard graft, determination, and integrity by the owners. It is this sort of store that should be supported and that the LONDON DESIGN GUIDE chooses to champion. They put the interest back into shopping. 

At the opening, I came across an edited selection of well-sourced things that I would have bought (had it not been so busy!). There are products that appeal to varying demographics and that don’t break the bank. I shall certainly return to buy some.