From the Floor Up
With the rich savoir-faire of Tai Ping Carpets as foundation, Fabrica’s designers reinterpret traditional carpet design to craft unexpected narrative objects. From the rural Chinese origins of the company to this Parisian exhibition, the works are inspired by natural elements such as raindrops, curtains and fallen trees.
The 9 unique pieces are furniture, shelter and illustrations – folded, rolled and suspended as imaginative extensions of what the carpet can become. Altogether the exhibits pays homage to the diversity of Tai Ping’s craft, interwoven with Fabrica’s creative spirit.
The nine carpets are accompanied by an ambient soundtrack composed by the Fabrica musicians: Francesco Novara,
Geremia Vinattieri,
Jhon William Castaño Montoya
and Davide Cairo.
Have a listen here…
soundcloud.com/fabricamusica
Photos by Paul Graves
Illustrations by Mariana Fernandes
D’Days 2013
From Wednesday, June 5th to Saturday 8th
10:00am—7:00pm
Reservoir Rug
by Dean Brown
A silk river collects in a series of wall mounted containers, falling fluidly from one to the next, eventually pouring onto the floor and rippling into a deep pool. The concept is inspired by the depth and subtlety of textile production and expresses the innate potential of a carpet moving gracefully from the wall to the floor, where it is typically found.
Fields
by Valentina Carretta
Flat surfaces fold, rise and reform to create three shelves of different levels: from the high console to leave keys on when you arrive home, to the low support that hides a space for your shoes. They represent an invitation to slowly lay down and relax. The choice of materials also support this gesture: from the raw feeling of loop wool to the soft, warm wool and silk fibres that invite touch.
Raindrops
by Giorgia Zanellato
Five carpets rise up from the floor to become raindrops, the alcove becoming precious spaces to store different things. The drops hang gracefully as a kind of entrance furniture, complimented by a small bench. Every drop features a specific finishing to define a special role for each space – from soft small ones to protect, to rough accommodating ones to store. The overall composition is a raining landscape of possibilities.
Dog’s Caprice
by David Raffoul
Dedicated to all dog owners, this doghouse is constructed in carpet to satisfy a dog’s capricious desires. As we know, dogs love to play on carpets, so with a special pattern of volumed pyramids, this piece helps the dog do just that. A small carpet made of 100% of silk is placed inside the house to add comfort for the puppy.
Still Life
by Charlotte Juillard
Carpets are generally used as an adornment in the centre of a room. Still Life is a console table where the decorative function of the carpet moves from the floor to the table – from horizontal to vertical. The beauty of the object is highlighted through the rich material, creating a detailed still life composition. It represents an uncommon way to view a carpet, as an object of narrative and art.
Layers
by Mariana Fernandes
Inspired by the rustic benches made by Tai Ping’s Chinese artisans, this piece features carpet designed in simple bench structures. Layers uses different sizes, heights and patterns to play with the idea of sitting. Whatever the posture or position of the benches, we find ourselves always sitting on carpet.
Tree Trunk
By Ryu Yamamoto
By sitting on Tree Trunk we understand the organic layering effect of wood. Through the combination of colour gradient and cut outs, the carpet rolls together to reveal the layers of a tree and forms a natural bench. The piece uses a variety of tones and textures to depict the growth process through the contours of a tree’s annual rings.
Draft
by Catarina Carreiras
Using Tai Ping’s array of textures as a palette, these hand drawn surfaces are a tribute to the simplicity of a beautiful Renaissance sketch. As frames, they enhance the stillness of a white wall and tell the story of the Parisian intricate plaster “frises”. As carpets, they pay homage to the complexity of the company’s tufting techniques and their craftsmen.
Foliage
by Sam Baron
The carpet making process is similar to the delicate growth of ivy, spreading organically over a vertical surface. Foliage conveys this technique with two hanging curtains, densely layered with lush textile vegetation, which creep from floor to the ceiling, drawn to the sunlight. The carpet backing will eventually be covered by this organic matter, as if guided by the drawn lines of the Tai Ping artisans.
