Court jester: Jaime Hayon gets his game on at Galerie Kreo with some big-hitting designs
Tempting as it may be to describe Jaime Hayon's new collection for Galerie Kreo, 'Game On', as sport chic, it would trivialise the materiality of his pieces to mere trend-speak. But this is not to suggest the prolific designer artist wants his bobsleigh daybed or hanging trapeze lights treated with gravitas. Au contraire. The pieces, he insists, are unapologetically playful - in keeping with both his personality and the theme.
Most people would never look at a table tennis paddle and envision a mirror, or see the potential of a medal podium as a cabinet. But cleverness and craft are to Hayon what serving and speed are to Roger Federer (for what it's worth, the designer says he dabbled in tennis as a kid). A side table in solid white marble, honed with a pattern of golf ball dimples, veers far from kitsch. In some cases, the source material is apparent but downplayed, as with a frosted glass lampshade shaped like a badminton birdie. (The three base options marked with brass lines, evoking football, basketball or volleyball courts or pitches) The 'Ping Pong' table in oak wood on a set of castors might come closest to its original function - except for its refined finish. But who knows; future owners (it was produced as an edition of six with two artist's proofs) might be inclined to serve dinner first and backspin later.
Hayon revealed that one buyer of a 'Podium' cabinet (an edition of eight with two artist's proofs) joked she will arrange the objects in each block according to preference. And indeed, anytime she pushes one of the beveled polyurethane doors, its numbered outline will act as a reminder.
The idea for 'Game On', Hayon's first collaboration with Galerie Kreo, began about four years ago, but took shape in earnest once the London Olympics had ended. At first, the designer was unsure whether people were feeling sport fatigue. But as he developed the prototypes - restricting the collection to noble, classic materials such as marble, porcelain, wood and steel - he realised they transcended mere novelty. As the sum of its parts, the collection reinforces that one must first respect the rules before breaking them. 'When you play with the idea of "serious fun", it's great, but there has to be quality,' explained Hayon, referring to the label recently bestowed upon him by Groninger Museum curator Suean van der Zijpp.
Hayon, included in the Wallpaper* 100 last year, has been fielding a wide range of projects over the past year, from chair designs for Magis and Fritz Hansen, to Cassina tasking him with an exceptional project linked to the famous Paulownia tree on Le Corbusier's Villa Le Lac property. His latest watch design for Orolog, an edition of 50, will also be available at Galerie Kreo. 'Everything I do is an exercise,' he said, stretching the theme. 'The most beautiful thing you can do in your career is to challenge yourself more and more. That way, you're never boring.'
For the Paris installation, which was unveiled yesterday (the London debut takes place 3 June), Hayon animated the walls and floors with colorful tape, applying wide creative licence to court and field demarcations. Shortly prior to the opening, he illustrated the street-facing windows. 'Everyone was a little bit scared, but they don't know me fully,' Hayon said, a big smile revealing just how much he enjoys throwing a curveball. Well-played, Jaime.
ADDRESS
Galerie Kreo
31 Rue Dauphine
75006 Paris
14A Hay Hill
W1J 8NZ London, UK
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
-
Gucci’s ‘Blondie’ bag revival sees the enduring 1970s accessory reimagined anew
First shown at Sabato De Sarno’s Gucci Cruise 2025 show in London, a new iteration of Gucci’s beloved ‘Blondie’ bag fuses 1970s insouciance with a crisp modernity
By Jack Moss Published
-
Private museum Simple Design Archive is a ‘poetic sound sanctuary’ in China
Simple Design Archive, located in China’s Anhui province, is a private museum by HAS Design and Research, fostering a contemplative environment
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
All hail the arrival of true autonomy? On Tesla’s proposed Robotaxi and techno-insecurity
Tesla’s new marketing push predicts a future of robot cabs, automated buses and autonomous home androids. We already want to get off
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Dive into the fantastic world of Jaime Hayon
Part of World Design Capital Valencia 2022, ‘InfinitaMente’ charts the past 20 years of Jaime Hayon’s work (on show until 16 April 2023)
By Blaire Dessent Last updated
-
Step by step: Virgil Abloh, Jaime Hayon and more rethink the ladder at Galerie Kreo, Paris
A new exhibition at Galerie Kreo, ‘Step By Step’, invites more than 20 designers to rethink the ladder’s classic design
By Hannah Silver Last updated
-
Ronan Bouroullec experiments with bas-relief at Galerie Kreo
A new exhibition of artworks by Ronan Bouroullec is now on view at London's Galerie Kreo (until 4 January 2022), exploring ceramic bas-relief in colourful compositions
By Rosa Bertoli Last updated
-
Last chance to see: Front’s magic mirrors in Paris
Sofia Lagerkvist and Anna Lindgren of Swedish design studio Front present ‘Seven Stories About Mirrors’, a new solo exhibition at Paris’ Galerie Kreo (until 24 July 2021) looking at the history of mirrors in a contemporary context
By Rosa Bertoli Last updated
-
Boundary breakers Jasper Morrison and Jaime Hayon turn their hand to fashion
By Elly Parsons Last updated
-
Eye candy: Jaime Hayon gives Caesarstone’s engineered quartz a new spin
By Ellen Himelfarb Last updated
-
Abstract space: BD Barcelona opens first UK space at Clerkenwell Design Week
By Sujata Burman Last updated
-
French exchange: Galerie Patrick Seguin opens in London
By Rosa Bertoli Last updated