Vase vs. Vases

Just a short walk from Berlin’s Lux 11 Hotel is the design gallery HELMRINDERKNECHT contemporary design who, until 9 January 2010, dedicate their second show completely to the subject of vases. 15 international designers and artists have been invited to show their contemporary interpretations of the vase.

Vases as objects of utility and decoration have been a common and classless part of our culture for many decades. From the simplest techniques to refined craftsmanship, from a commodity item and an early mass product to fabulous decoration of sophisticated perfection: vases can be found in almost every household and are a perfect mirror of prevalent design engineering and aesthetics.

The exhibition VASE vs. VASES brings together contemporary positions of 15 national and international designers and artists, namely Werner Aisslinger, Giulia Maria Beretta, Frédéric Dedelley, Oscar Diaz, Martí Guixé, Alfredo Häberli, Robin van Hontem, Nicolas Le Moigne, Julia Maendler, osko+deichmann, Ursula Palla, Tina Roeder, Robert Stadler, Studio Glithero and Hermann August Weizenegger. The novel handling of experimental and conceptual design, figuration, abstraction and craftsmanship result in vases that dance, that shine, that are actually a plant, that used to be a bag, and much more.

My personal favourite is the RGB vase where the values of red, green and blue overlap to create a specific hue of purple (p242).

Check the exhibition out for yourself at HELMRINDERKNECHT contemporary design, Linienstrasse 87, 10119 Berlin.