A bold and playful exhibition of art and design in Malaga: CSN News

Three playful and attractive objects, signed by Parra, Javier Calleja and Jean Jullien, are a vase in the shape of a bottom, mushroom lamp and book-shaped chair. These and more can be seen at A World in Objects, an exhibition at La Térmica, showcasing over 200 pieces from Case Studyo, a Belgian brand known for blending creativity with renowned artists to create limited-edition objects. The exhibition will be open until 29th June.

Over 70 works by international artists are displayed on a table measuring 20 square metres. The exhibition brings together “tradition” and the “avant-garde”, with ceramics, wrought irons, woods and tapestries, all of which have been filtered through contemporary visions of some of today’s most important artists.

Antonio Javier López, director of La Térmica and co-curator of the show with Mathieu Van Damme, founder of Case Studyo, highlighted the variety of materials and visions.

With their vivid colours, fun shapes and ironic details, the pieces in this exhibition are visually irresistible. Parra’s surrealist characters, which resemble birds, are brought to life by over 30 objects ranging in size from small figurines up to large sculptures. Parra created the vase with the bottom shape, which contrasts a vase designed by Genesis Belanger in the form a female head. Jean Jullien, a French graphic artist, is represented by chairs in the shape of books and other chairs that have flat characters on them. He also has lamps with wooden bodies with lightbulb heads. Todd James is a New York based graphic and painter who contributed a half dozen pieces in ceramic, bronze and resin. One of his works was a teapot with a woman’s face. Javier Calleja, from Malaga, is represented by ceramic pots with large glasses eyes. This signature feature can also be seen on his mushroom-shaped lamp.

FriendsWithYou stands out with its small ‘friends,’ ‘clouds,’ and stylised hands. HuskMitNavn combines Mickey Mouse with Donald Duck in a work by HuskMitNavn. A tapestry created by Cristina Banban is hung on the wall. Felipe Pantone’s piece rotates and changes colours. Mathieu Vand Damme selected the artists carefully based upon his personal tastes. His perspective has evolved from abstract art to graffiti.

Van Damme clarifies: “It’s not art toys, it’s art.” Van Damme began his collection of vintage toys, and early items may have been more in line with that concept. But now, he says, calling them art toys diminishes their worth. Van Damme worked with artists and designers to design each unique object, focusing on craftsmanship and sustainability. Materials are chosen to avoid plastics as much as possible. The majority of the production is done in Europe in the Netherlands and Portugal. There are eight-piece series or 100-piece collections. It’s not exclusively exclusive, but nearly so – it is the only option for many people to own a Calleja piece or a Parra piece.