Jewellery artists Beatrice Brovia and Nicolas Cheng's exhibition at Galerie Caroline Van Hoek was one of the material highlights of Milan design week. Conversation Piece Chapter One: On The Doorway showcased a series of sculpted objects acting as door handles, fixtures and fittings in the setting of a domestic interior.
Each piece is made up of a combination of traditional jeweller's materials and more unusual substances, including silver, jet, iron, ebony, marble, horn, rock crystal and salt.
By displacing the art of jewellery-making from its traditional context, Brovia and Cheng hope to open up a debate about the role of the discipline.
Design writer Michele D'Aurizio states in the exhibition's introductory text: "The objects they have created transcend the common role or ornament for the body that the tradition of applied arts confers upon the jewel, and instead tries to establish a dialogue with other everyday supports."
The exhibition is very much in keeping with WGSN-homebuildlife A/W 12/13 macrotrend Eco Hedonism, which sees us crafting a new luxury in parallel with nature.
The second chapter of the project, Facades, will be unveiled during Design Miami/Basel, from 13-18 June 2011.
You can read more about the project on the Conversation Pieces website.
WGSN-homebuildlife subscribers can access our full reports from each area of Milan Design Week, including the Salone del Mobile, Euroluce, Salone Satellite, and Fuorisalone (off-fair events).
You can also see all of our blog posts about Milan 2011 here.
