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
Galerie Kreo unveils ‘Seven Stories About Mirrors’, a project by Sofia Lagerkvist and Anna Lindgren of Front featuring seven new mirrored objects exploring the history of mirrors, on view until 24 July 2021.
For the past three years, the Swedish designers have been asking themselves, ‘What’s in a mirror?’, and this collection is the result of wide research. ‘From the first stone mirror made 8,000 years ago, the history of mirrors has been laced with magic and poetry, luxury and vanity, myth and faith, medieval industrial espionage and modern psychology, craft and technological advances, culture and self-consciousness,’ say the designers. ‘Each of our seven stories about mirrors draws from a key step in the development of mirrors, and their unique craftsmanship.’
The history of mirrors: from stone to metal
‘Through researching the history of the mirror, we wanted to understand how an object can transform its function, materiality, value and status over time,’ say the designers. The pair started by analysing reflection, mirror design and manufacturing through history, and created seven mirrored objects that respond to these moments in time. Working from a cultural, symbolic, as well as physical perspective, Lagerkvist and Lindgren dissected several centuries of design history and techniques to create their new pieces.
From water reflections to 13th-century blown glass, from 8,000-year-old obsidian to foundries making bronze mirrors, each piece, they explain ‘is the result of an astute typological and historical analysis of the mirror-object in order to investigate how the value, significance, cultural meaning, and technical aspect of a specific object is constantly evolving with time’.
As well as traditional vertical mirrors, the collection includes the ‘Water Reflection Side Table’, a design evoking the reflecting water surface used since prehistoric times for ceremonies or to mirror and study the sky, and two ‘Mirror Vases’, inspired respectively by ancient Roman glass mirrors and by 13th-century manufacturing techniques involving unrolling a flat sheet of glass to create a mirror.
Other mirrors in the collection include a thick, black obsidian piece that resembles a wall-mounted, oversized piece of jewellery, a bronze mirror inspired by the Chinese mirrors dating back to 2000 BC, and ‘The Secret Mirror’, referencing 15th-century Venetian plate glass techniques
‘“Seven Stories About Mirrors” is about how one can study the evolution of humanity through the prism of the mirror, and how a single object fractures into multiple narratives,’ reads Galerie Kreo’s introduction to the project. ‘From industrial espionage in 16th-century Venice to Chinese metal mirrors, from early craftsmanship prowess to technological achievements, from the metamorphosis of the materiality of an object to the relationship of each one of us to our own image.
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
Information
‘Seven Stories About Mirrors’ is on view at Galerie Kreo, Paris, until 24 July 2021
galeriekreo.com
frontdesign.se
Rosa Bertoli was born in Udine, Italy, and now lives in London. Since 2014, she has been the Design Editor of Wallpaper*, where she oversees design content for the print and online editions, as well as special editorial projects. Through her role at Wallpaper*, she has written extensively about all areas of design. Rosa has been speaker and moderator for various design talks and conferences including London Craft Week, Maison & Objet, The Italian Cultural Institute (London), Clippings, Zaha Hadid Design, Kartell and Frieze Art Fair. Rosa has been on judging panels for the Chart Architecture Award, the Dutch Design Awards and the DesignGuild Marks. She has written for numerous English and Italian language publications, and worked as a content and communication consultant for fashion and design brands.
-
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
-
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
-
Lake Como Design Festival explores neo-nomadism
Staged across historical venues in Como, the latest edition of the Lake Como Design festival (17 – 25 September 2022) includes exhibitions and talks centred around the theme of nomadism, and how it has shaped culture and creativity
By Maria Cristina Didero Last updated
-
Studiopepe unearths a new aesthetic inspired by ancient sacred artefacts
Presented through an immersive installation at Fuorisalone 2022, Studiopepe has created a collection of furniture and objects with Galerie Philia, marking the studio’s debut into collectible design
By Rosa Bertoli 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: Philippe Malouin’s multifunctional steel furniture is made from found objects
‘Steel Works’ marks Philippe Malouin’s solo debut in Athens, with an exhibition of multifunctional furniture and lighting designs at The Breeder gallery (until 31 December 2021)
By Rosa Bertoli Last updated
-
New York design exhibitions: collectible design and emerging talent to discover
A Wallpaper* guide to the best New York design exhibitions to visit now
By Pei-Ru Keh Last updated
-
Design Miami/Basel 2021: the Wallpaper* highlights
As Design Miami returns to Basel (21 – 26 September 2021), we look at the fair’s highlights, including thematic displays, Curio presentations, and large-scale installations
By Rosa Bertoli Last updated
-
Design Miami launches shop to support Covid-19 key workers
Design Miami/ Shop will include collectible design from 52 international galleries, and the new charitable initiative in collaboration with international designers and artists
By Rosa Bertoli Last updated