London-based Australian designer Brodie Neill used the dowel to construct an elegant lattice-like sculptural bench leaning into a traditional Japanese bamboo construction technique which demanded closer inspection to fully appreciate its intricacy. Neill’s ‘Latitude bench’ will also be auctioned together with the other pieces in the show at the end of October, with all profits going to reforestation charities. Further in the exhibition, Matteo Fogale has collaborated with costume designer Emma Archer, taking inspiration from traditional tailoring techniques to create screens from left over fabrics donated from Kvadrat to dress the dowels fanning elegantly across one another. 

In presenting this body of work I hope it furthers the conversations needed regarding sustainability, and finds its way into the public realm reaching a much larger audience. Championing and discussing work of this nature, connecting with it, and acting upon it is important but the reality is unfortunately we are much too late.

Let’s hope fashionably so, in that we may still enter into the debate and make a lasting impact. Showings like this must act as a call to arms in the battle against ignorance on climate change. For the conversation to travel no further than the beautifully preserved walls of sketch would be a luxury disservice that we can no longer afford.

∆