Norway x New York 2021

Norway x New York 2021

Curated by Sight Unseen
Supported by the Norwegian Consulate General in New York
On view at Matter October 7 – October 20
405 Broome St., NY
Monday – Friday, 11am – 5pm

On October 7, 2021, Sight Unseen will debut the fourth edition of its ongoing Norway x New York project with an exhibition taking place at the New York design showroom Matter. The 2021 edition of Norway x New York includes furniture, lighting, and objects created by nine Norwegian designers for nine US-based design brands — all hand-picked by Sight Unseen’s editors. Each designer worked closely with a brand for a year to develop a product for its catalog, the first prototypes of which will be on view during the exhibition. The full list of pieces follows.

The exhibition design has been created by Office of Tangible Space, and built by Thirdkind Studio.

Silva lamp by Vilde Hagelund for West Elm

Inspired by the dappled light of the forest, Silva is a tribute to the beauty and warmth of wood’s natural grains and fibers. Traditionally, table lamps have been made with minimal use of wood, but Silva celebrates the material in its entirety. Silva’s form echoes the archetypal table lamp with its distinct silhouette, allowing the natural material and its texture to take center stage. Vilde Hagelund is an Oslo-based furniture designer that aspires to create long-lasting, quality products by equally valuing material, form, and function in her design processes. West Elm is a global design company dedicated to transforming people’s lives and spaces through creativity, style, and purpose.

Stone Side table and Stone Catchalls by Kaja Dahl for Areaware

The Stone Side Tables and Stone Catchall both came from the same starting point: creating shapes that would display the beauty of the natural stone. Dahl played with angles and composition in her design process, ultimately focusing on contrast between the very controlled, minimalistic meeting of the shapes and the organic character of the sandstone — resulting in clean, sculptural pieces with angles and shapes to discover. Kaja Dahl creates and designs sculptural objects that speak to the beauty found in nature and life; natural materials, sustainable design choices, and sensory aspects are fundamental elements of her practice. Areaware is a gift and home accessories brand that closely collaborates with independent designers to realize their unique visions and bring their design ideas to life.

45 Table by Jenkins&Uhnger for Dims

Based on a classic apron construction, the 45 Table takes un unconventional turn via the 45-degree angle of its rectilinear legs, which create dynamic proportions when viewing the product from different vantage points. Offered in a selection of American-harvested solid woods, 45 Table is produced by Dims. and manufactured in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Jenkins&Uhnger is an Oslo-based design studio that gently challenges the constraints of tried-and-true categories, chiefly through the steady remixing of functions, emotions and technologies in furniture products. Established in 2018, Dims. is an American design brand producing contemporary furnishings from the world’s top emerging designers.

Heirloom rug by Pettersen & Hein for Edward Fields (pictured above)

Inspired by the process of planting a garden, Heirloom is a one-of-a-kind rug that embodies nature’s inherent surprises, from seed to plant. The rug’s unique three-dimensional construction — which uses yarn remnants for environmental sustainability — captures the beauty of an untamed, wild garden. The carpet pushes the boundaries of what an area rug can be, with its organic overall shape and multi-layered use of textures, colors, and materials, including different types of wools, silks, and flax. Pettersen & Hein explores the potentials of materials, transforming cold, prosaic, and seemingly static materials such as concrete and metal into soft and poetic objects. Edward Fields is a vanguard of American design that has created artisanal carpets of unparalleled style and quality since 1935.

Mast table light by Bjorn Van Den Berg for Matter Made

Mast’s inspiration came from looking at alternative ways of mounting, adjusting, and interacting with a light source. The lights use a low-voltage power source running directly into two vertical rods attached to the base. The spring clip attachments give the lamp a lightweight and cordless look, as well as the freedom to adjust the light directly on the power source. Bjørn van den Berg is an Oslo-based industrial designer with a special focus on exploring new perspectives within aesthetics, and new ways of interacting with domestic objects, furniture, and lighting. Matter Made is a New York–based manufacturer of contemporary furniture, lighting, and objects working with an international roster of established and emerging talents in design.

Foundation bench by Jonas Stokke for Bestcase

The Foundation bench is the result of a continuous dialogue between designer Jonas Stokke and Bestcase CDO Charles Constantine, centered on the importance of steel in forming modern America — as in the physical manifestation of Manhattan skyscrapers. Mies Van der Rohe’s Seagram building in particular, with its rational approach to standardized manufacturing and adherence to material properties, served as an inspiration, as did Jean Prouvé and his factory aesthetics. The steel structure of the bench is the foundation, which carries the wooden beam, soft towards the human body. Jonas Stokke is an Oslo-based award-winning industrial designer pursuing sturdy-yet-elegant products. Bestcase is a design and manufacturing firm from the East Coast specializing in steel furniture for the home and contract market.

Stream divider by Vera & Kyte for Designtex

Stream is a semi-private wool-felt panel that acts as a partition while maintaining a visual connection and openness within your space. The sculptural form is inspired by rounded pebbles that have been shaped and scattered by flowing water, adding an organic touch to contract environments. Stream’s warm wool felt and friendly shapes provide a sheltered space that softens the soundscape as well as creates a visual calm for concentration or conversation. Vera & Kyte is a Bergen-based design studio applying an analytical approach to exploring new materials and aesthetics, in projects ranging from objects to spatial design. Designtex is the leading company in the design and manufacturing of applied materials for the built environment.

Archive pendant light by Runa Klock for Souda

The Archive Pendant Light is a remix of New Wave visuals and Art Deco motifs. Inspired by New York City’s iconic architecture, the blown-glass lamp is decidedly modern while nodding to a rich history of aesthetic styles. Runa Klock is a forward-looking designer who’s passionate about our planet and its people, and who designs high quality products and exhibitions for leading brands and museums. Souda is a New York City–based brand that works with leading independent designers to produce furniture and lighting.

Clap Clap table by Stine Aas for Tortuga

The Clap Clap Table is a double-folding indoor table that can be positioned in three ways: fully folded to optimize storage space, partially opened in a half-moon shape to seat 1-2 people, or fully opened to seat up to 4 people. The Clap Clap Table is made of solid wood and finished in two tones of a semi-transparent linseed oil paint. Stine Aas is a Bergen-based furniture designer working with products and objects that radiate functionality and simplicity. Tortuga is a Brooklyn-based company that originates flexible, timeless, and hard-working furniture that simply does more.