CDW PREVIEW: Zaha Hadid Gallery to unveil exhibition with Fritz Hansen

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CDW PREVIEW: Zaha Hadid Gallery to unveil exhibition with Fritz Hansen

For Clerkenwell Design Week 2019, Fritz Hansen partners with Zaha Hadid Design to present ‘Shaping Reality Through Time’, an exploration of Fritz Hansen’s design evolution…

To celebrate a decade of Clerkenwell Design Week, design studio Zaha Hadid Gallery has partnered with Fitz Hansen to exhibit ‘Shaping Reality Through Time’, which will be held at the Zaha Hadid Gallery, 101 Goswell Road, London between May 21 – June 13.

On Tuesday May 21, to celebrate the opening of the exhibition, a talk will take place between Fritz Hansen head of design, Christian Andresen and Zaha Hadid Architects head of interiors, Kar-Hwa Ho.

The story of Fritz Hansen’s design evolution can best be told through the series of chairs produced since the cabinet maker Fritz Hansen obtained a trade license in 1872, before beginning his own furniture production company.

‘Shaping Reality Through Time’ will offer a rare glimpse at aspects of the Heritage Exhibition, brought to the UK for the first time from Alleroed, Copenhagen – home to the original factory plant and current Head Office.

This London exhibition will include anniversary pieces, early examples of the signature laminated technology still in use today, original prototypes and limited editions, alongside newer pieces launched at this year’s Milan Design Week.

Hansen has worked with Zaha Hadid Design to co-curate and edit the exhibition with a specific focus on chairs carrying a shared aesthetic and design DNA, typified by sculptural form and organic lines.

‘Shaping Reality Through Time’ will also see pieces revealed in the UK for the first time, following their launch at Milan’s Salone del Mobile, April 2019 including ‘Plenum’, Fritz Hansen’s 2018 first dedicated contract furniture piece. Arne Jacobsen’s ‘Little Giraffe’ was first produced in 2019 but created 60 years ago for the S.A.S Royal Hotel, Copenhagen; A new piece by Jaime Hayon will also mark ten years of Hayon’s ongoing collaboration with the brand and heritage pieces will include the limited edition PKO – Fritz Hansen’s first collaboration with Poul Kjaerholm as well as Henning Larsen’s ‘Kar’.

Much of Hansen’s furniture begins life as an imaginative sketch before being transformed into functioning reality through impeccable craftsmanship, precise technology and excellence of materials. Pieces such as the original Swan, Drop, Egg – as well as Nendo’s more recent N01 and Hayon’s earlier Ro – perfectly illustrate the continued evolution of sculptural and at times almost flamboyant expression. The exhibition will be further bought to life with original sketches and drawings as part of an illustrative timeline supporting the historical journey.

Hotel Designs are proud media partners for this year’s highly anticipated Clerkenwell Design Week. 

Main image credit: Zaha Hadid Gallery/Fritz Hansen

Hamish Kilburn / 15.05.2019

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