Milan 2011: Conversation Piece by Beatrice Brovia & Nicolas Cheng

Monday 25 April 2011



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.