V&A trip: Telling Tales Exhibition

Having been to V&A for so many times, I still discovered new surprises from time to time.
This time it's the 'Telling Tales' Exhibition: the exhibition explores fantasy and fear in contemporary design. Each display showcases furniture, lighting and ceramics through
storytelling. Overall the exhibition was cosy and compact, consisting
of three 'rooms': the forest glade, the enchanted castle and heaven/hell.Below are my favourite item respectively from each section:



'Bathboat'
Wieki Somers

Oak and red cedar, epoxy

The 'Bathboat' is like a small boat turned inside out, designed to keep water in rather than keep it out. Wieki Somers wanted to make the connection between floating on the water and bathing in the water because they evoke many similar feelings and elements.



'Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend 1' lantern
Matali Crasset
Paktong, mouth-blown sheet glass


Paktong is an alloy of copper, zinc and nickel. It was developed as early as the 12th century in China and was prized because it looked like a cross between gold and silver and would not tarnish. Until now, its recipe had been lost. Matali Crasset's lamp is like a massively enlarged diamond pendant.



Priscilla 37 kilotons Nevada 1957' huggable cushions
Dunne & Raby
Reflective fabric, polyester stuffing

These cushions diffuse our horror of nuclear annihilation by allowing us to literally embrace our fears. We are infantilised, as the atomic subject is made into a child's object. The soft toys, therefore, act as psychological prostheses, using irony to help us confront what may at first seem impossible to face: the threat of total nuclear desolation.

Dunne & Raby are my favourite interaction designers from London, they use design as a medium to stimulate discussion and debate amongst designers, industry and the public about the social, cultural and ethical implications of existing and emerging technologies.