Watchmaker, Melbourne Design Week

The inaugural Melbourne Design Week is navigating the concept of Design Values. The theme has been challenged in a multi-artist exhibition in an unusual location: an old watchmaker’s shop in Collingwood. Folk Architects have thoughtfully re-designed the derelict space, the starkness of which is perfectly complimented by multiple reflective panels.

Vintage ice cream tins decorate the entrance to the Watchmaker building in a nostalgic nod to the space’s future as the home of Piccolina Gelateria. Be sure to try some of Piccolina Gelateria’s superb gelato on site before you go. The pistachio flavour is highly recommended.

Among the multiple exhibitions in the Watchmaker building, visitors will find their attention utterly captured by 26 Original Fakes, curated by Dale Hardiman and Tom Skeehan. 26 artists have created their own version of the much-copied HAL Chair by Jasper Morrison. Inkster’s chair, titled REPLICATE THIS, is made from solid wood and was created using only a chainsaw in defiance of the ultra convenience of modern production. The ingenuity in each design skilfully indicts the replica furniture industry in Australia.

The Found Object, curated by Jaci Foti-Lowe of Hub Furniture, presents a collection of miscellaneous items lovingly collected by a group of Melbourne designers. Pieces like a group of cooking utensils request the viewer to appreciate their unconventional sentimentality.

The Watchmaker will be open for viewing daily until Sunday, 26 March.

The Melbourne Design Week program will examine both what is important to design and how it is important to us. The diverse variety of events range from Creating the contemporary chair, to Does Blak Design Matter?, and The Catenary Pottery Printer by GT2P. For the full program, head to ngv.vic.gov.au/melbourne-design-week-2

folkarchitects.com