progressland: chamber gallery hosts objects + artifacts of human exploration and innovation

progressland: chamber hosts objects + artifacts of human exploration and innovation
photo by guang xu / all images courtesy of chamber

from now through august 2016, chamber presents chapter two of collection #2, curated by celebrated filmmaker and photographer andrew zuckerman. ‘progressland‘ — which takes its name from GE’s futuristic pavilion at the 1964 world’s fair — emphasizes the intersection between nature and progress through exploratory themes of pioneering and innovation. collected from a global roster of artists and designers spanning origin and discipline, customized contemporary design pieces are presented alongside specially-commissioned unique editions and historic objects, showing a manifold selection of both rare and unusual artifacts. 

installation view of chapter two of collection #2, curated by andrew zuckerman
photo by guang xu

key pieces chosen by zuckerman underscore human relationship to natural evolution, including satoshi itasaka’s ‘birth gold lamp’ — which celebrates the moment of conception — and ceramicist peter pincus’ multi-colored porcelain urn. the two diametrically opposed objects represent fundamental aspects of life: birth and death.

zuckerman commissioned two pieces that encourage the thinking that leads to innovation: a rolltop desk by ian stell, and a tea house by mimi jung. stell’s desk is designed for the user to focus rigorously on a new invention, and is itself a work of ingenuity, where the material that forms the base of the chair converts to become the cover for the desk when not in use. jung’s tea house, which also serves as a private, enclosed personal meditation room, offers the user a space for deep contemplation, reflection and ideation.

‘progressland’ emphasizes the intersection between nature and progress
photo by guang xu 

in the spirit of advancement, zuckerman asked designer bec brittain to design a chandelier in the shape of the international space station. a strong symbol of borderless creative collaboration, the ISS points to the future of cross-cultural achievement and represents a growing shift in our perspective on the surrounding universe.

finally, in acknowledgement of mankind’s ongoing fascination with outer space, zuckerman features two space gloves — one from the past and one from the present. a left hand glove from a soviet space suit from 1977 works in tandem with a current prototype by final frontier design.

objects have been collected from a global roster of artists and designers spanning origin and discipline
photo by guang xu

‘the human race’s relationship to innovation is fascinating to me,’ zuckerman says. ‘there are the objects we invent out of necessity and there are those we invent out of the sheer pleasure of imagining a future or wanting to see and understand things previously unknown. this innate curiosity and tendency to look forward is the driving force behind new discoveries and concepts. all of the objects in ‘progressland’ reflect that kind of thrilling leap into the uncharted. the show is about the spirit that drives progress and the inquisitive minds that practice in this space.’

mimi jung: ‘tea house’, 2016 | origin: los angeles, USA (see more about project on designboom here)
aluminum, douglas fir, polymer cords | 83 x 83 x 80 3/4 in | unique

aranda/lasch + gabon boutique: ‘stool’, 2016 | origin: libreville, gabon
movingui wood | 14 x 16 x 17 1/2 in | edition of 12
image © designboom

satoshi itasaka: ‘the birth gold’, 2016 | origin: tokyo, japan
aluminum, copper, electric code, glass, nylon, plastic, steel | 29 1/2 x 29 1/2 x 41 5/16 in | edition of 12

detail of ‘the birth gold’ by satoshi itasaka

tadeáš podracký & markéta kratochvílová: ‘skywalkers’, 2014 | origin: prague, czechrepublic
glass, gold plated stainless steel |various dimensions | prototypes

studio molen: ‘lost in traffic space glove’, 2016 | origin: zaandam, the netherlands
bronze silver patina, gold polish | 6 11/16 x 7 1/2 x 13 3/8 in | prototype + edition of 8 + 4ap

konstantin grcic: ‘360º chair’
steel frame, white epoxy resin | 24 13/16 x 24 13/16 x 27 3/16-30 11/16 in

people people: ‘transparent speaker’, 2013 | origin: stockholm, sweden
glass, metal, plastic dimensions | 4 3/16 x 16 9/16 x 13 in | open production

bec brittain: ‘MOU’ (memoranda of understanding), 2016 | origin: NY, USA
brass, two-way mirror, glass, LEDs |  36 x 47 x 20 in | edition of 7 

ian stell: ‘rollbottom’, 2016 | origin: new york, USA
steel, leather, aluminum, glass | 20 x 43 x 39 1/2 in | unique

final frontier design: ‘EVA space suit arm and glove assembly’, 2016| origin: NY, USA 
urethane coated nylon and kevlar fabrics, lycra, RTV urethane, 2024 aluminum, carbon fiber, nylon webbing, velcro, 4130 steel, NAS SS screws, acrylic base plate, compressor, pressure control fittings | 18 x 19 1/2 x 53 1/2 in | unique

globe-trotter + andrew zuckerman: ‘the space case’, 2016 | origin: london, united kingdom
chrome, fiberboard, fabric lining, leather | 21 x 15 x 7 in | unique