From November 6th, the Novalis Fine Arts gallery in Turin (Torino) will present the first retrospective of the Austrian designers mischer’traxler, curated by Maria Cristina Didero. The Austrian duo consists of designers Katharina Mischer and Thomas Traxler, who develop design products, furniture and installations with focusing on the more experimental design and conceptual thinking. After graduating in Conceptual Design at the Eindhoven Design Academy in June 2008, they collaborated in various projects for several years before founding the studio in 2009.
The duo’s work has been exhibited at the Art Institute of Chicago, at the Design Museum in London, the MAK in Vienna and the Designhuis in Eindhoven. During the Salone del Mobile 2011 mischer’traxler have been awarded the prestigious Designer of the Future Award given by W Hotel with Design Miami / Basel.
Katharina and Thomas influence each other and their creativity is often expressed through integrated concepts and processes, rather than objects. Balancing between handcraft and technology, they envision whole systems and new production methods that indicate sustainability and the relevance of nature. Part of their Design process is to examine, experiment, analyse and reject. This critical view often questions and affects the relation between producer, object and owner. ‘Why’ and ‘what for’ are often the main concerns before a new project comes into being, whilst ‘what if’ cases in new interpretations and different possibilities. Their Results often make use of unexpected materials and are characterized by external inputs, for example the condition of the weather or the usage of the existing.
mischer’traxler: first Italian retrospective at Novalis Fine Arts
curated by Maria Cristina Didero
Turin, November 6th – December 6th, 2011
Opening November 5th, 2011
Novalis Fine Arts
via Maria Vittoria 19, 10123 Torino