Friedman Benda will present "Portraits," Dutch designer Marcel Wanders' first-ever solo gallery exhibition.
Marcel Wanders' design practice has become synonymous with an outspoken optimism and uplifting spirit. With this exhibition, he explores a darker and more sensual side of humanity through a staging of imaginary characters interacting within a distorted fairytale. A depth of emotions rarely expressed in his previous work reveals a layered narrative.
Marcel Wanders' total environment will include several core bodies of work: large abstract figural mirrors, such as Merrick, Mordrake and Day Dream, with carved details and cutouts, create an illusion of a character or ghostly figure; a cabinet in Corten steel is a kinetic piece, balancing a sculptural ovoid form that abstracts a human head and physically rocks on the top surface; Tempter, a rocking unicorn is cast in bronze with metal chain stirrups; and Shiqule Nuhai, two ceramic vases, monumental in height, are white and black, rather than the traditional white and blue. In addition, Wanders' Phoebe Lamps, hybrid lighting fixtures/fashion accessories previously featured at the Stedelijk Museum, will be on view.
About Marcel Wanders:
Marcel Wanders (Boxtel, Netherlands, b. 1963) lives and works in Amsterdam. He graduated cum laude from the Hogeschool voor de Kunsten (ArtEZ Institute of the Arts) in Arnhem in 1988 after being expelled from Eindhoven Design Academy. In 2014 he successfully completed an Executive MBA from INSEAD. In 1995 Marcel Wanders opened his studio in Amsterdam, quickly coming to worldwide attention in 1996 for his iconic Knotted Chair, which paired 'high tech' materials with 'low tech' production methods.
Marcel Wanders has been the subject of three major solo museum exhibitions. In January 2014, the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, one of Europe's premiere contemporary art and design museums, held his first major museum retrospective Marcel Wanders: Pinned Up 25 Years of Design. This exhibition, covering Marcel Wanders' celebrated 25-year career, saw an extraordinary record attendance and featured more than 400 pieces in a wide range of media. In 2012, his Capsule collection was exhibited at Beijing's Capital Museum; and in 2009, the Philadelphia Museum of Art presented Daydreams.
Marcel Wanders' work is included in museum collections internationally, including: Brooklyn Museum of Art, NY; High Museum of Art, Atlanta, GA; Indianapolis Museum of Art, IN; Museum of Arts and Design, New York, NY; Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, TX; Philadelphia Museum of Art, PA; Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Oita Prefectural Art Museum, Japan.
Marcel Wanders' chief concern is bringing the human touch back to design, ushering in what he calls design's 'new age,' in which designer, craftsperson and user are reunited. In his process, Marcel defies design dogma, preferring to focus on holistic solutions rather than the technocratic. In Marcel's universe, the coldness of industrialism is replaced by the poetry, fantasy and romance of different ages, vividly brought to life in the contemporary moment.
Today Marcel Wanders' studio numbers around 50 international design specialists. He is a prolific product and interior designer and art director, ubiquitous with over 1700+ projects to his name for private clients and premium brands such as Alessi, Bisazza, Flos, KLM, Swarovski, Puma, among scores of others. In 2001 Marcel co-founded the successful design label Moooi, of which he is also Art Director.
Create a Core77 Account
Already have an account? Sign In
By creating a Core77 account you confirm that you accept the Terms of Use
Please enter your email and we will send an email to reset your password.