ammann//gallery Presents Between All Chairs

As always, the Salone sees the debut of countless chairs — few of which might eventually achieve “timeless” status, as is the case with the selection of designs in a historic exhibition at ammann//gallery in Cologne, Germany. Set to open this Thursday, 14 April, “Between All Chairs” offers a curated survey of its subject matter, from Alessandro Mendini‘s ostentatious 1979 “Poltrona di Proust” to new creations by the likes of Florian Borkenhagen and design collective Nucleo.

Gallerist and curator Gabrielle Ammann has also seen fit to include a pair of now-classic 2006 designs by longtime collaborator Ron Arad — “No Void” and “Oh Void” — alongside concept-driven works by Rolf Sachs. Dating back to 2006 and 2008 respectively, the latter designer’s “No Rest for the Rust” and “Dirty Thoughts” chairs have also aged remarkably well. In keeping with the gallery’s multidisciplinary approach, the exhibition also includes Sebastian Errazuriz‘s homage to Joseph Kosuth’s “three-in-one” chair, alongside Richard Artschwager’s similarly semiotic “Chair” (1965/2000).

Thus, if the chair represents the “mother of all design objects”, the exhibition reflects ammann//gallery’s ecumenical scope, which spans design, architecture, visual art, and photography. Indeed, the gallery is celebrating ten years of blurring the distinction between art and design, and “Between All Chairs” marks the gallery’s 33rd exhibition.

Rounding out the selection, the Botschafter Stuhl (Ambassador Chair) finds its origins not in art but rather design for social impact. Based on Enzo Mari’s classic design, the chair is made by refugees as part of Berlin-based initiative CUCULA – Refugees Company for Crafts and Design. In this case, the object more literally — and arguably more meaningfully — represents new opportunities.