DESIGN:Studio Wieki Somers-Out of the Ordinary
Dutch designers Wieki Somers and Dylan van de Berg work together under the name Studio Wieki Somers. They set up their practice in Rotterdam in 2003, following the completion of their studies at Design Academy Eindhoven. The studio undertakes commissions for international manufacturers, museums, and galleries, and has enjoyed a long-standing relationship with Galerie Kreo in Paris.
By Dimitris Lempesis
Photo: mudac Archive
Studio Wieki Somers creates objects that reflect a deep sensitivity for materials, technological detailing, and a highly demanding finish, often introducing fantasy into the most common everyday objects. The designers’ works are on presentation in the exhibition “Out of the Ordinary” at Musée de design et d’arts appliqués contemporains (mudac) as part of the Museums “Carte Blanche” series. The exhibition offers an intuitive and contemplative journey that explores the oeuvre of the Studio via 15 different projects, delving into some of its research themes to reveal how the Studio’s work transforms the ordinary. In an exhibition created specifically for the warm and intimate space of the museum, Studio Wieki Somers has constructed a series of areas where visitors are invited to enter its world and develop a connection with the works and with the art of looking. To capture this secret feeling, the Studio has designed a special colour plan, where hues relate to the pieces and themes of each room, and every window is “opened” to let in natural light. Dylan van den Berg says “Our work is connected by a free, open-minded, probing approach to research rather than immutable design principles. The fascinations that lie at the base of our design research frequently recur, for example, magical reality, the protagonist, strange combinations, the past, and nature”. Presented in terms of these research themes, rather than chronologically, “Out of the Ordinary” explores the art of looking, where the attention to detail and technical ingenuity are combined with unusual storylines. Also Studio Wieki Somers commissioned photographer Elspeth Diederix to capture these fascinations and a presentation of her photographs complements the exhibition.
Info: Musée de design et d’arts appliqués contemporains (mudac), Place de la Cathédrale 6, Lausanne, Duration: 24/10/17-11/2/18, Days & Hours: Tue-Sun 11:00-18:00, https://mudac.ch
