The Objects Biennial

17 November 2012 - 12 January 2013

82 Franklin St NY 10013

New York, NY (October 23, 2012)—R 20th Century is pleased to present The Objects Biennial, the third annual group exhibition of intimately scaled, new and vintage works by international designers. Curated by R 20th Centuryʼs principals Evan Snyderman and Zesty Meyers, the exhibition is on view November 17, 2012 through January 12, 2013. There will be a special open house on Saturday, November 17th from 2 pm until 6pm, with refreshments and many of the designers present.

The Objects Biennial is a culmination of many years of Meyers and Snyderman collecting works during their world travels. From jewelry, vessels, objects for the home and toys, to small furniture, ceramics and sculptural works; some of the objects in exhibition defy classification but all obtain elegance or whimsy and exemplary craftsmanship. By bringing these works together Meyers and Snyderman illustrate ideas they have observed about creative process, inspiration and how many of the artists and designers draw from the vernacular of their originʼs design history and craftsmanship. The Objects Biennial features works from Brazil, Germany, Korea, Lebanon, South Africa, and the United States.

Objects for domestic settings are represented in the exhibition with Christian Wassmannʼs handmade pillows based on the geometric ideals of Platonic solids; never-before-seen ceramics and small furniture pieces conceived and handcrafted by Los Angeles-based The Haas Brothers; and one-of-a- kind wall cabinets in mother-of-pearl by Kang Myung Sun.

A variety of containers and vessels will be included such as Ziggurat boxes by Oeuffice that elevate common 1980s Formica by combining it with wood and exploring traditional Lebanese craftsmanship and unique patterns; intricately carved wooden desk organizers by Korean designer Zong-Sun Bahk; hand-worked bowls in gold and silver alloy made from foreign coins by Luzia Vogt; beautiful brutalist glass vessels by Thaddeus Wolfe; ceramic vessels by Korean designer Hun Chung Lee; and a small selection of rare and unique vintage jewelry boxes by Wendell Castle.

Jewelry in the exhibition consists of Kara Hamiltonʼs exquisite work created from recycled and hand- worked gold, gems and raw minerals; and jewelry for both men and women in gold and sterling silver from Anne Fischerʼs Heaven/Hell series.

The exhibition also includes objects for all ages with child-sized Archaelogical Survey Team jeeps designed by Tyler Hays and made by BDDW; Serena Mitnik-Millerʼs painted blocks inspired by nautical flags and the geometry of Montessori toys; handmade toys by renowned German designer Renate Müller; new and vintage surfboards by iconic shaper Carl Ekstrom and featuring his signature originally penned by Andy Warhol; and an international survey of candy from crowd-pleasers to the obscure, curated by ITEM.

Objects that straddle the realms of sculpture and design include new works in glass by Jeff Zimmerman; handcrafted miniature staircase models by artist and architectural metal designer Gabrielle Shelton; elegantly spare objects designed by renowned architect Ali Tayar; and South African designer Michaella Janse van Vuurenʼs mythical creatures hand-drawn and produced one at a time by exploring the possibilities of 3D printing and rapid prototyping.

A pop-up bookshop curated by Artbook | D.A.P. and featuring book signings and events with Metropolis Books, Gregory R. Miller & Co. and MoMA curator Juliet Kinchin will be organized in conjunction with the exhibition.

R 20th Century principal Zesty Meyers says, “This exhibition looks at global designs cross pollination of ideas, inspirations and processes, and offers a broad view at how and why people create objects.”