ikea art event

i've never been a big buyer of ikea art (for that matter, any art) but a quick search on their website shows that they have beefed up this section considerably. which may explain the ikea art event, begining september 20, 2006.

"at ikea we are no strangers to the great and the good of the world of art. we have been selling motifs of many artists such as picasso and monet. ikea art event adds a new dimension to our offer and opens the door for you, our customers, to the world of exclusive current galleries. the artists presented in the ikea art event are individual contemporary artists working in sweden. this is a limited edition. why limited? well, why not - this is an event afterall. here today, gone tomorrow. this is definitely an event you don't want to miss!"

and it's only for you folks in chicago, paramus, philadelphia and conshohocken. via positive fanatics.

one day event: travelling apothecary

is your life blighted by the shame of ikea-mania? do you crave cheap chairs? seek solace in simple sofas? or dream of bookcases called billy?

then, you've caught ikea-nitis. but fear not, mr crispin jones offers you a cure, a chance for a fresh start. his patented failsafe diagnostic machine and electric lady cure will put an end your vile desires quickly and permanently.

you can see mr jones at the travelling apothecary, a one day free event on saturday, 16 september, 10.00�18.00 at the british library piazza, 96 euston road, london nw1. (you lucky londoners!)

the event features a selection of uk's most talented young designers, who will host stalls peddling cures for modern-day ailments in the best wild west medicine-show tradition. ailments treated include 'network addiction', 'litter guilt', 'fantasy flings' and 'home makeovers'.

the latter, of which i am terminally but blissfully afflicted. so, kate, while thanks for the tip, i won't be taking the meds. :) link

tags: ikea, travelling apothecary

please do not try this at home

who would have thought an ikea dining chair would be so much fun. design students at the university of the art in berlin were asked to create an interactive extension for a simple ikea chair.

like this one, unprepossessed by martin frey (right), has speakers on each side of the chair so you can hear two different voices telling different aspects of the same subject. hmm, modern day angel-demon-on-the-shoulders scenario?

but the waiting for godot chair by magdalena kallenberger is the one that takes the cake. "as a person approaches the chair, a motion sensor triggers a voice module inviting him/her to take a seat and 'wait for godot'. as the person sits, the pressure of the bodyweight activates the pressure sensor, which in turn triggers the walkman to play a voice that says 'have a seat, please... please wait a little ...godot is coming soon... please wait a little...'. if the person rises from the chair, the voice goes 'what a shame to leave now. godot will be here in just a few more minutes!' and then repeats itself again with the words 'have a seat, please... please wait a little ... godot is coming soon... please wait a little...' hilarious. though i'm not sure i (or your guests) want to meet this chair in real life. [via we make money not art]

tags: ikea, dining chair, we make money not art

ikea flatpacks rearranged into art

found these beautiful pieces at mocoloco. the humble bumerang clothes hanger is reborn as a stag's head. with a few more hangers, you can form a crossbow to shoot ikea pencils at the stag, with no animals harmed in the process. how neat is that? it gets even better - take ikea's bestselling poang armchair, add a few some twists, and out comes a sled. wow.

these were university of brighton (uk) kieren jones' brilliant design concepts for the the british council�s annual student design competition - a diy ikea project called 'flat-pack re-arranged'. perhaps the more ingenious part of it is that kieren has created do-it-yourself manuals that guide the user through the creation of the new products - suped up versions of ikea assembly instructions, i reckon.

i hope he sells the manuals, cause i'd be first in line. link.

you may also be interested in:
- vince's sliding door room divider in apartment therapy's smallest coolest 2006 contest
- ragnhei�ur's benjamin stool with motif in design*sponge/fred flare's spring spruce up contest"


tags: ikea, poang armchair, bumerang hanger, flatpack, design, kieren jones

a little more fabulous

hey, i just found some photos promoting the ikea everyday fabulous exhibition. i know, i know, it's a done deal but i couldn't pass over these clever new york city hacking ideas. i wonder, though, didn't anyone haul off the sofas?

see more here.