Cappellini’s Homage to Mondrian
It’s hard to adapt art to an everyday object and keep it cool. We’ve seen Mona Lisa fridge magnets, Starry Night coffee mugs, and David coasters. The veneer of a masterpiece doesn’t improve these souvenirs. However, this Shiro Kuramata-designed cabinet actually builds on the work of Piet Mondrian. The addition of functionality gives Mondrian’s flat grid another dimension. The play of different sized drawers brings another insight into the composition. It’s a true homage and a worthy extension of Mondrian’s work.
I love it. It’s no coincidence that these photos look good on this website. Next time I see a Mondrian painting, I’ll probably imagine what could fit into each implied drawer.
The piece is made by the Italian firm Cappellini. It’s finished in matte lacquer in black, white, blue red and yellow, and it stands on grey rubber castors.
Japanese desigenr Shiro Kuramata is known for pushing the boundaries of modern materials. He has designed stores for fashion designer Issey Miyaki, and his pursuit of purity lead to the elimination of “impurities” such as doorknobs. In 1981, he joined the Milan-based design collective Memphis. His works is in the permanent collections of the Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris, MoMA in NYC, the Met in NYC, and the Museum of Modern Art in Toyama.
More about the pieces at the Cappellini site
Photos and more Kramata info at designboom
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