Split Personality - Friedman Benda
Split Personality, Installation. Courtesy of Friedman Benda. Photographed by Daniel Kukla
Friedman Benda’s seventh annual guest-curated exhibition, Split Personality, opened on January 11th. Curated by Alice Stori Liechtenstein, independent curator and founder of Schloss Hollenegg for Design, the exhibition explores how functional objects undergo a process of mutation to acquire symbolic value, and thus develop split personalities that oscillate between their different identities.
The works on display – ambiguously classifiable as chairs, tables, and rugs – are meant as furniture of practical and comfortable nature. Yet, as Stori Liechtenstein puts it, “the personality and implicit meaning of these pieces are so assertive that they appear to be at odds with the function.” In the course of history, objects were rarely valued and made purely for their function. However, they have always carried specific cultural, subjective, or philosophical messages; they are used to characterize, communicate, and develop our sense of self and construct our own identity. The exhibition explores the different identities objects are capable of embodying, and how their ‘split personality’ helps the viewer acknowledge their power to be alternatively functional furniture or conveyors of meaning.
Artists and designers on view include Arnaud Eubelen, Chris Schanck, Christien Meindertsma, Commonplace Studio, Emma Fague, Fernando Laposse, Ismaël RifaÏ, Jonathan Trayte, Katie Stout, mischer’traxler, Nobukho Nqaba, Rich Aybar, Soft Baroque, Brynjar Sigurdarson, Studio Wieki Somers, Thomas Ballouhey, and Toomas Toomepuu.
Kula Sour. Courtesy of Friedman Benda and Jonathan Trayte. Photographed by Daniel Kukla
Dreamer and Dream. Courtesy of Friedman Benda and Thomas Toomepuu. Photographed by Daniel Kukla
Vanity. Courtesy of Friedman Benda and KAtie Stout. Photographed by Daniel Kukla
Frozen Vase. Courtesy of Friedman Benda and Studio Wieki Somers. Photographed by Daniel Kukla
Soft Metal Veneer Wall Shelf. Courtesy of Friedman Benda and Soft Baraoque. Photographed by Daniel Kukla
Soft Metal Veneer Table. Courtesy of Friedman Benda and Soft Baraque. Photographed by Daniel Kukla
Coffee Table. Courtesy of Friedman Benda and Brynjar Sigurðarson. Photographed by Daniel Kukla
Narcissus. Courtesy of Friedman Benda and Chris Schanck. Photographed by Daniel Kukla
Lamp. Courtesy of Friedman Benda and Ismaël Rifaï. Photographed by Daniel Kukla
Blanket. Courtesy of Friedman Benda and Ismaël Rifaï. Photographed by Daniel Kukla
Bench. Courtesy of Friedman Benda and Ismaël Rifaï. Photographed by Daniel Kukla
Isitulo chair and Untitled-19. Courtesy of Friedman Benda and Nobukho Nqaba. Photographed by Daniel Kukla
Limited Grasses. Courtesy of Friedman Benda and mischer'traxler studio. Photographed by Daniel Kukla
Flax Field. Courtesy of Friedman Benda and Christian Meindertsma. Photographed by Daniel Kukla
Camo Table. Courtesy of Friedman Benda and Fernando Laposse. Photographed by Daniel Kukla
aydreams Mashed Potato. Courtesy of Friedman Benda and Emma Fague. Photographed by Daniel Kukla
This is your House. Courtesy of Friedman Benda and Amaudd Eubelen. Photographed by Daniel Kukla
My Sweet Neighbour. Courtesy of Friedman Benda and Amaudd Eubelen. Photographed by Daniel Kukla
Observatorium Mirror. Courtesy of Friedman Benda and commonplaces.
Morning Routine and Night Curiosities. Courtesy of Friedman Benda and Thomas Ballouhey. Photographed by Daniel Kukla
Cresent Clove Seat, Split Personality, Installation, Courtesy of Friedman Benda and Rich Aybar. Photographed by Daniel Kukla