Event 2: Provocations: The Architecture and Design of Heatherwick Studio, Hammer Museum

After visiting the first exhibition of Sundaram at the Fowler Museum, I had the opportunity to experience another first at the Hammer Museum. Thomas Heatherwick’s Provocations: The Architecture and Design of Heatherwick Studio was on display for the first time in North America. The London-based studio prides themselves on inventive thinking and the lack of a specific style among all their works. Heatherwick Studio produces art anywhere from small scale consumer products to furniture to public sculptures to major architectural designs.



After catching a glimpse of this chair among other exhibit items, I was immediately intrigued. Titled “Spun” (2007-11), the chair is composed of foam, plywood, MDF, metal and plasticine to form a comfortable and unique seating option. Heatherwick Studios wanted to make a plastic chair with symmetrical rotational form the same way you metal spin. Thomas Heatherwick took the tool he learned from a silversmith at London’s Royal College of Art to create this piece of furniture.



The chairs were on display in the courtyard for the public to test out. They were quite fun!



However, it was the architectural masterpieces that were awe striking. I was extremely impressed some of the design and detail of the buildings. It is here where their knack for combining inventive thinking, elite engineering, efficiency and clever use of materials makes their product shine above other architecture. While I had several favorites, the “UK Pavilion” set itself apart because the structure won the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai. At the expo, countries compete to build a piece of architecture that best represents their nation. Thanks to Heatherwick Studios, the UK won by using 66,000 acrylic rods to make an eco-friendly illuminated building that reflected the famous outdoor parks in the UK.

It is the combination of smart, savvy and stunning art that makes this exhibition elite. The exhibition is now closed. But if there comes another time to see Provocations, I highly recommend that other people visit!