ON OUR RADAR
We’ve picked five designers to keep an eye on at this collectable design fair
Loved for its bold meeting of antiques, tribal art, jewellery, contemporary design and craft, PAD London is a showcase of design that is not to be missed. Now in its 13th year, the event crosses the boundaries of collectable design in the 21st century. pad-fairs.com/london
We are thrilled to see that a selection of South African designers will be represented at the fair by Southern Guild, one of PAD London’s 11 new exhibitors this year. Rich Mnisi will be exhibiting his first foray from fashion into furniture design with the avantgarde Nwa-Mulamula chaise. Crossing the divide between design disciplines, Mnisi’s marriage of African and contemporary pop culture has been of great influence throughout his career. Organic and brimming with movement, the anthropomorphic chaise’s rounded leather form nods to the figure of a reclining woman and is dedicated to his late great-great grandmother. richmnisi.com
Exploring man’s relationship with the natural realm, Stanislaw Trzebinski’s otherworldly sculptures in patinated bronze will be on display. For Archeoflavus Tripartitus and Archeoflavus Pulchellus, a pair of heavily patterned nesting tables, the Kenyan artist took inspiration from the depths of the ocean, where the calm realm beneath the water takes on a mystical atmosphere. The tables manifest like pieces of coral, rising and spreading in tabular formations much like a lily pad. Represented by Southern Guild. stanislawtrzebinski.com
Stitching together their respective Eastern and Western cultures, Studio MVW’s Xu Ming and Virginie Moriette will bring their sculptural JinYe console to the fair, presented by Galerie BSL. Pure of line and architecturally strong, the console combines Patagonian quartzite and brass. Having done work for L’Oreal, Deutsche Bank and Roche Bobois, among others, their designs present a tension between the timeless and contemporary, challenging preconceptions of space and form. Appearing to balance lightly on top of one another, the console’s parts have a delicacy that belie their structural integrity. It’s both refined and natural, elegant and organic, something the duo does exceptionally well. studiomvw.com
Represented by Galerie Mouvements Modernes, we are crazy about Turi Heisselberg Pederson’s unexpected, graphic sculptures. Hailing from Copenhagen, the ceramicist’s stoneware vessels are highly expressive and bear a primitive look, manifesting in both positive and negative form with their faceted and broken surfaces. With their distinctly monolithic appearance, it’s unsurprising that her Faceted Shapes collection was cued by geology and crystal formation, as well as architecture. turiheisselberg.dk
Manipulating metal as if it was play dough, Japan-born Junko Mori’s expressive sculptures in silver and steel are breathtaking. Forging, casting, hammering and welding a multitude of fine parts, Mori’s works come to life through assemblage. Inspired by the natural growth of cells and plant matter, her pieces represent as delicate yet powerful works of art that echo nature. Her ceramics will be shown at the fair by Adrian Sasoon. junkomori.com PAD London runs from September 30 to October 6 at Berkeley Square, London.