Milan Designweek craft-work

Of course this year in Milan the talk was all about Lidewij Edelkort'sTalking Textiles whiccelebrated the return of the chunky, clearly handmade and crafted textiles into our living-room. At the Center of Milan at Spazio Gianfranco Ferre was the exhibition with the celeb designer names, that have all ventured into the chunky crafty sfere. But I was much more charmed by part II, set-up in Venture Lambrate, where the more artsy work could be found by young relatively unknown designers.

Ella Robinson is embroidering on wood. How amazing is that? She drills holes and her colorful and poetic embroidery "bleeds" onto the wood from there. Funky, etnic, you could be misled to think that there where some hidden African roots embodying it.

Ella Robinson

Ella Robinson

Marie Paysant La Roux is using a somewhat similar technique, punching her holes in soft paper pulp egg-packs. It almost seems like the egg-pack is hosting a parasite fungi culture that is growing even overflowing the natural boundaries of the egg-pack
 

Marie Paysant Le Roux

Elaine Yan Ling Ng uses the Neologism Naturology to describe her work. It's a hybrid word combining nature and technology. Her re-created nature was mounted on a slice of wood, a bit like Ella Robinson but executed in a very different way. Elaines work is subtle and transparent almost a reproduction of fragile leaves, animated by LED's that bounce.

Elaine Yan Ling Ng

In the PlusDeSign Gallery I saw these wonderful skinned furniture. The designer, and I unfortunately lost the name, has crocheted new jackets, thereby upcycling the furniture. Also by adding the cute coaster flowers she makes the stark and rigid office-furniture kind and friendly.

in a little gallery in Lambrate, I saw these coasters, which where nicely in contrast with the sweetness of crocheting, saying FUCK. Maybe swearing at the boredom of the everyday?

and to close off look at this wonderful horse, carrying death and all his accesories. It's as if a rarity cabinet has been opened and hung onto the horse. Frederique Morrel wallpapers horses and paraphernalia with salvaged needlepoint. Needlepoints as we remember them from grandmothers living-room. The combination makes for something grotesque, baroque and alarming. The total seemed quite camouflaged against the background, but once you noticed what was really in-front of you can hardly prevent a feeling of disbelief arising.

Frederique Morrel @ Rosana Orlandi