With Milan 2012 approaching on the horizon like some 1950s Ford heading along Highway 46, it was most felicitous that the new ett la benn newsletter arrived in our in-box yesterday.
In both senses of the word.
At last year’s Poetry Happens in Milan ett la benn presented “Kami” a series of asymmetrical pots, vases and lamps created from cellulose.
Although a wonderful range of objects and fascinating design concept, as a very experimental project it was always unlikely that a partner could be found to market the cellulose version. Sadly.
However a ceramic version of the pots and vases is to be released by the Australian based homeware producer Maxwell & Williams.
Which means they should be available in a Galeria Kaufhof near you from June.
As far as we can tell “Parts” have the same form as the “Kami” originals, just in ceramic, and as such are obviously a more durable and stable version for home use.
Aside from the fact that ett la benn could win a globally active partner for the project, what really pleases us about the news is the fact that it represents a wonderful confirmation of the Poetry Happens concept.
As co-organiser Tim Brauns explained to us last year the initial idea of Poetry Happens was to present rough, 3D prototypes of a project; because in these first models one finds the soul of the idea. However because everyone in Milan is looking for a producer, most of the presented projects were at a slightly more polished phase. Already mildly compromised, as it were.
Kami was one of the rawer projects. And so good to see it coming through to a commercial conclusion. Albeit in a different material.
For as ett la benn put it back then “Poetry begins in observation of an object when it is created….”
Maxwell & Williams obviously agree.
Full details can be found at www.ettlabenn.com
The Kami range by ett la benn @ Poetry Happens Milan 2011
Parts by ett la benn for Maxwell & Williams