PAD, the unaffiliated design adjunct to the Frieze London art fair, is now a settled fixture. And it makes for a civilised diversion, made even more civilised this year by the restaurant and bar design from David Collins Studio. It doesn’t though offer much in the way of surprises. In fairness, PAD, unlike Design Miami, has never set itself up as champion of new design. It is built around the Parisian 20th century design galleries who continue to unearth pieces from Prouvé and Perriand when logic suggests the supply must be thoroughly exhausted.
But there is adventure at PAD this year if you look for it. Cologne’s Ammann Gallery has new pieces from Turin-based Nucleo, even if they come off ancient as much as contemporary. The young British designers Faye Toogood and Bethan Laura Wood, now enjoying almost pop star status, have works at Gallery Fumi and Nilufar respectively.
Hervé van der Straeten, meanwhile, is presenting his own new designs; the French contemporary ceramics specialist Sèvres, a PAD debutant, has typically beguiling designs from Aldo Bakker; Galerie Kreo, recently opened in London, has new pieces from Doshi Levien; Friedman Benda fields new works from Joris Laarman; and Carpenters Workshop Gallery has genitalia-inspired lamps from Atelier Van Lieshout. As you do.
This year’s standouts though are probably the Garrido siblings, Juan and Paloma, who sell their own designs through an eponymous gallery in Madrid. Second generation silversmiths, the pair craft sculptural metal furniture in elegant ellipses and shattered shards.
