This object, which at first sight may seem like an item of jewellery, is in fact a trivet by the young designer Gabriele Chiave. Devised to dangle from a kitchen hook, it can be taken down and thrown like dice onto the dining table. Once a suitable position has been found for the article upon the table it transforms into a prop for boiling saucepans, scorching oven trays or hot serving dishes. Worthy of note is the contrast (present more often than one might think in the history of kitchen utensils) between the functional use of this unassuming item and the opportunity for aesthetic redemption presented by its decorative and stylish features.
Chiave Gabriele
Gabriele Chiave was born in Metz. Two years later he moved with his family, spending 4 years in Dakar, 5 in Caracas, 1 in Buenos Aires, 3 in Rome (where he completed his higher secondary education) and then 8 years in Milan where he studied Industrial Design at IED and began working with a number of design studios, including Syn design, Fabio Rotella, and Lorenza Bozzoli. He participated and exhibited in projects such as Emergency, Rotari, Epson, and Toshiba.
From 2004 to 2006 he worked with Marc Sadler at the Ideal Standard European research centre, and he worked with many other companies. In the same period he was involved in and provided assistance for 6 lpwk/alessi workshops, which began in 2003 and are still being run.
He has worked freelance for clients and customers in the design field since 2006.
He has lived in Amsterdam since early 2007.
LPWK
Born in Bergamo, Italy, Laura Polinoro graduated in Drama Art and Music Studies in Bologna. Her first job was in the field of contemporary dance as art director and costume and set designer. Later she undertook research at the Domus Academy in Milan. From 1990 to 1998 she was in charge of the Centro Studi Alessi, where she operated as meta-project designer and art director, coordinating workshops both in-house and in association with various universities and design institutes the world over. She was also involved in publishing and communications activities. Items which entered production in that period are identified with the acronym “CSA”. Since 2004 products overseen by Ms. Polinoro have been identified with the letters "LPWK"
Graphic concept, templating and develop
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