A creative cutlery show at Antwerp's Valerie Traan

Black and golden coloured knives and forks — 'Objects & Subjects' at Valerie Traan gallery showcases a range of innovative cutlery from the world's sharpest design minds. Pictured: cutlery set prototype by Koichi Futatsumata. Photography: Frederik Vercruysse

(Image credit: Frederik Vercruysse)

The collected forms of cutlery are among human history's most essential tools. This idea manifests itself as an experimental topic for selected designers and artists presenting their flatware projects at the Antwerp-based gallery Valerie Traan.

Cutlery, with its distinctive sculptural sensibility, has always attracted designers. Even Bruno Munari, one of the greatest thinkers of modern design, dedicated one chapter of his book Design as Art to the philosophy, form and function of cutlery. Now, an international crowd of designers and artists, including David Bernstein, Octave Vandeweghe, Maarten Baas, Unfold, Koichi Futatsumata, Studio Wieki Somers and Muller Van Severen have given new life, new beauty and even new meaning to these simple extensions of our limbs.

The artists' varying creative philosophies resulted in several unique and unexpected objects: designer Maarten Baas presents sketchy, almost childlike cutlery in his typical contemporary style; while Koichi Futatsumata was inspired by shape of his favourite technical pen for the grip of his cutlery, rendered in the shape of hexagon. Both projects are the first works realised for the valerie_objects ‘To eat with’ cutlery collection.

More artistic approaches are seen in the work of the Maastricht-based American David Bernstein and the Belgian Octave Vandeweghe. While Bernstein connects cutlery to stories and uses myriad spatulas as starting points for his performance-based pieces, Vandeweghe uses precious gemstones to create facet-shaped tools resembling prehistorical objects or natural wonders. 'The combination of a gemstone with facets, a knife and cutlery combines notions like beauty and function,' he says. 'Beauty becomes function, and function becomes beauty.'

'When I approached the designers I knew that they would each use their expertise, background and knowledge to come up with a completely divergent range of results. But whatever stage they were at, they all succeeded in delivering a surprise,' says curator Veerle Wenes about the project, which will be also on show at Il Lazzaretto during next month's Salone del Mobile.

Abstract, bended fork designs — Work by an international crowd of designers and artists such as David Bernstein (who's *Spatula* is pictured left), and René Heyvaert (pictured right) gives new life and beauty to these simple extensions of our limbs. *Heyvaert photography courtesy White–Out Studio*

White cutlery against a pink background — Designer Maarten Baas presents sketchy, almost childlike cutlery (pictured) in his typical style. *Photography: Frederic Vercruysse*

Purple Amethyst Teeth and long pointy Smokey Rutile gemstones — Octave Vandeweghe uses precious gemstones to create facet-shaped tools resembling prehistorical objects or natural wonders. Pictured left: *Amethyst Teeth*. Right: *Smokey Rutile*

Cutlery with rigid edges side by side — Curator Veerle Wenes says, 'When I approached the designers I knew that they would each use their expertise, background and knowledge to come up with a completely divergent range of results.' Pictured: cutlery set by DD Trans. *Photography: David Samyn*

INFORMATION

'Objects & Subjects' is on view until 2 April. For more information, visit the Valerie Traan gallery's website

ADDRESS

Valerie Traan
Reyndersstraat 12
2000 Antwerp

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Adam Štěch is an architectural historian, curator, writer and photographer, based in Prague. He is the author of books including Modern Architecture and Interiors (2006), editor of design magazine Dolce Vita and a contributor to titles including Wallpaper* and Frame, while also teaching at Scholastika in Prague.