Indigo: A Cultural Iconography

For London Design Festival 2017, Neri&Hu crafted an installation of refined Asian aesthetics at the city’s Design Museum for Stellar Works. The temporary piece, called ‘Indigo: A Cultural Iconography’, explores the brand’s materiality in manufacturing and the connections between old and new and east and west, especially in terms of attitude, form and application. Its focus is on the ‘Ming’ chair – a design that mixes ornamental motifs with modern functionality – and presents seven iterations of it, beginning with raw untreated wood, before showcasing a wealth of different textures and saturations.

The various translations of the Ming chair as showcased through the Stellar Works installation enable a documentation and exploration of techniques and materials from past to present-day. Each piece on display at the design museum acts as a canvas in time, recording and sharing a chronology of Asian craftsmanship for both visual and creative pleasure.

Situated on the mezzanine level at the London Design Museum, Stellar Works’ installation and ‘Ming’ chair were both designed by Neri&Hu and as such, both take sources from the past to influence the present. In reference to this, a core theme of the London Design Festival exhibit follows the use of indigo, an ancient dyeing process that was commonly used in Japan and China. As well as showcasing the previous development of this chair and its craftsmanship, the installation presents the latest iteration of the design in deep, dark blue color, thanks to a collaboration with The Fabrick Lab.

The various translations of the Ming chair as showcased through the Stellar Works installation enable a documentation and exploration of techniques and materials from past to present-day. Each piece on display at the design museum acts as a canvas in time, recording and sharing a chronology of Asian craftsmanship for both visual and creative pleasure.

Situated on the mezzanine level at the London Design Museum, Stellar Works’ installation and ‘Ming’ chair were both designed by Neri&Hu and as such, both take sources from the past to influence the present. In reference to this, a core theme of the London Design Festival exhibit follows the use of indigo, an ancient dyeing process that was commonly used in Japan and China. As well as showcasing the previous development of this chair and its craftsmanship, the installation presents the latest iteration of the design in deep, dark blue color, thanks to a collaboration with The Fabrick Lab.