A vintage wooden child’s toy beside a distinctly breast-like lamp. A black haired doll near a collection of artfully folded rugs. What do these things have in common? What’s the connection?
Tucked beneath the High Line, a short walk from The Standard, High Line is Chamber, a modern day cabinet of curiosities — a gold-dipped, leather-stitched, multi-colored vision of 100 carefully selected pieces from the past and present. This curious curatorial exercise, undertaken by the Dutch design duo Studio Job, is Chelsea’s latest cultural offering, a visual trip unlike pretty much anything else on the New York scene.
OBJECT Nº 4: “Puzzle Box” by Ko Verzuu, OBJECT Nº 19: “Smica Lamp” by Studio Job + Cmmnwlth
Chamber is an art and design store founded by Juan Garcia Mosqueda with an experimental twist: every two years, Mosqueda will enlist a new designer or creative to select its collection. And with Studio Job at the helm of the store’s introductory presentation, intrigue has been ignited.
The aforementioned vintage wooden toys, coated in a rainbow of primary colors and complete with subtle chips and scratches are placed next to a striking wall piece titled “Tit Lamp,” a collaboration between Studio Job and Murano glass masters Venini. The juxtaposition invites consideration, with visual echoes and counterpoints that reflects the humorous, beautiful, and surprising spirit of Studio Job, while creating a timeless design display.
OBJECT Nº 80: “Horse Bust (Chess Piece)” by Studio Job, OBJECT Nº 28: “A Diagram for Thinking About Thinking” by Neil Denari
A Viktor and Rolf black-haired doll peers over three artfully folded rugs (designed by Nodus and Matali Crasset), while a giant yellow glass ‘bubble’ (another light fixture and collaborative Studio Job endeavor) looms over Dieter Rams’ classic radio. The list of surprising objects goes on and on and as one ventures deeper into Chamber. This mixed-media, multi-function display from well-known and unknown talents comes to life before the viewer. How such a selection of objects can co-exist harmoniously in this cavernous, white-walled space is another question entirely.
View of the Chamber space
OBJECT Nº 65: "T 1000 World Receiver” by Dieter Rams
Perhaps it's Studio Job’s all-hands approach to presentation, with custom designed wooden pedestals and papier-mâché wall plates that allow the pieces to "speak" to one another. Perhaps it's the golden hues and primary color tones in every third piece that visually bring it all together. Or maybe it’s a general reflection of the designers' strong intuition and solid taste?
Regardless of theory, one thing is certain: Studio Job have created their own microcosm of wonder, housed in Mosqueda’s Chamber and the store will no doubt continue to lead visitors on visual adventures for years to come.
