Sebastian + Barquet – 8 Desks

The Sebastian + Barquet Gallery has made an important contribution to New York’s design scene ever since its opening in 2005. Participating in Design Miami and Design Basel they’ve reached an international audience leading to an opening of a third gallery in London this year. Focusing on 1940s – 1960s international modernist design it’s the first gallery of its kind in London. The inaugural exhibition focused on American modernists such as Wendell Castle, George Nakashima and Paul Evans.

The second exhibiton, 8 Desks opens on January the 15th and it seeks to show the evolution of the writing desks. The exhibition contains desks designed by Jean Prouvé, Charlotte Perriand, Pierre Jeanneret, Jean Royère and George Nakashima. Retrospectives usually display the past and to be a showcasing for collectors but the contextualisation of the desk as an ever evolving object makes it interesting in looking to the future.

Heavy laqued pieces of wood, small metal details and a clear presence of craft is important trends in reviving the humanistic elements in design and the exhibition adds a surprisingly fresh perspective.

8 Desks, 15 January-14 March 2008
Sebastian + Barquet Gallery
19 Bruton Place, London
www.sebastianbarquet.com

This is the first post by the new David Report contributor Alfred Malmros.