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Two Kettles, No Sofa

Hosted by: Brompton Design District

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What's On / Past exhibitions / Two Kettles, No Sofa

Past Exhibition Information

Sept. 14, 2022 - Sept. 25, 2022

Gallery 5

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Brompton Design District

For LDF 2022 Designer James Shaw and writer Lou Stoppard explore themes around moving in together. Tastes and desires collide when two households combine to become one.

A presentation of Shaw’s design objects is mixed with historical design classics to create a fictive environment which tells the story of a couple negotiating the conflicting tastes and practicalities as they attempt to build a home together. It is a meditation on the sense of self which objects of daily use give us, and the role physical possessions, habits and compromise play in our relationships. Shaw's objects and the arrangement of the display have been shaped by a new short story written by Stoppard, which was, in turn, inspired by the way Shaw’s objects look when placed alongside other furniture. The short story is available for visitors to the exhibition to take away. When any couple move in together for the first time a clash of ideas about how we interact with the physical world emerges. Esoteric habits to do with tea-making or hand towels, which may well have been-acquired from our parents or past relationships, are suddenly forced to co-exist. Daily dramas unfold as very particular views on stacking the dishwasher unite. Battlefields emerge around taste in chairs. The home becomes a negotiation table, a physical manifestation of our ability to accept, to tolerate, and to love.

James Shaw is a designer and a maker exploring the material landscape in a hands on way. His work aims to interrogate the material, systemic and formal approaches to the creation of objects. Frequently his work considers the resources around us challenging the notion of ‘waste’ to create new beautiful materials. James has exhibited internationally and past awards include being nominated for the Design Museum Designs of the Year Award and winning the Arc Chair Design Award. His work is in the permanent collections of MoMA, The V&A, The Montreal Museum of Art, The Design Museum Ghent and The Museum of London among others.

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About the Hosts

Brompton Design District

Brompton Design District

Initiated by South Kensington Estates, a company with a history woven into the fabric of the district for over 200 years, together with a cluster of design retailers and local cultural institutions, the District was established in 2007 to foster a space where new design can flourish. The aim was to revitalise the heritage of the area as a place where people come together to share, enjoy and learn about design in its broadest sense; design, culture, fashion and food.

It is the leading District during the annual London Design Festival with a dedicated programme of temporary exhibitions. Brompton’s programme, curated by Jane Withers Studio, has played host to pioneering and innovative contemporary exhibitions. The combination of temporary exhibitions, set in an area of London known for its iconic, international design brands, adds energy and dynamism and has earned Brompton the reputation as a leading international design destination.


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