Cover The Grand Suite exhibit by Helle Mardahl (Photo by Alastair Philip Wiper)
The Grand Suite exhibit by Helle Mardahl (Photo by Alastair Philip Wiper)
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Furniture and decor designers Helle Mardahl, Simone Bodmer-Turner, and Inga Sempé transform homes into delightful aesthetic showcases, inviting viewers to see their works in a new light
Exhibitions are usually places for artists to showcase their works in a controlled environment; every detail is calibrated down to the atom. However, these three female designers are subverting that expectation. They straddle the line between the private permanence of a home and the public transience of an exhibit.
These exhibits display various rooms of a home. This is a clever way for manufacturers to showcase their products, asking viewers to imagine what it would be like to have such items in their own spaces. The viewers then participate in a more playful scene that engages their imaginative limits.
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The Grand Suite: Helle Mardahl
Photo by Alastair Philip Wiper
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Mardahl had a clear image of this homeowner from the beginning: “She is an adventurous woman residing in the most luxurious grand suite. Treated like the queen of the castle, she enjoys her privacy, yet desires company.”
This exhibit transforms Mardahl’s Copenhagen showroom into a shopaholic’s oasis. In one room, Mardahl’s glass cups are strewn over the vanity. Clothes spill out from an endless array of drawers. The woman who caused this mess is lying in bed, fatigued by her endless shopping adventures. In the background, the sounds of a woman sleeping play.
In the next room, an expansive dining room contrasts her solitary figure. Under Mardahl’s glass pendant lights, she has only her dog as a companion. Similar to the bedroom, an audio track plays in the dining room. Mardahl recorded it after hosting a dinner party with her husband.
The entire exhibit takes on a dreamlike quality. “This year, we thought, instead of producing way too much stuff that we don’t need, we will do a scenery of something unexpected, unpredictable and unbelievable,” she said.
Her messy habits breathe new life into the house’s opulence. Always on the go, she stays effortlessly chic–and always ready for the next shopping trip.
This exhibit is on display for the 3 Days of Design festival in Copenhagen. You may also visit it at the nearby Designmuseum Denmark.
A Year Without a Kiln: Simone Bodmer-Turner
Photo by Marco Galloway
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Bodmer-Turner’s exhibit bridges her time between working in a studio in Brooklyn and moving to a farmhouse in Massachusetts. It shows collectable design objects made of wood, lacquer, bronze, and silk, a departure from her usual ceramic sculptures.
“Serving as a topography of the self,” Emma Scully Gallery wrote. “This inherently personal showcase invites viewers into Bodmer-Turner’s inner landscape during the immense transition and creative incubation.”
Bodmer-Turner had packed up her kiln during the moving process, but she still wanted an artistic outlet to remember this transition period. She laid out her lamps and side tables by a slip-covered sofa, coffee table, and fireside andirons.
Bodmer-Turner is known for drawing inspiration from nature. By adding an organic, unfiltered edge to her creations, an elegant room takes an unexpected twist.
“Each material and motif has a personal history for me,” she said. “They are intended to act as talismans of memory, creativity, and pleasure throughout this living space.”
The Imperfect Home: Inga Sempé
Photo by Gianluca Di Ioia
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The most expansive of the three exhibits we mention in this article is that of French designer Sempé, which showcases seven different rooms. The exhibit is an homage to her 23-year career. Instead of making her designs stand out, she seamlessly integrates them into a cluttered but fulfilling life.
Curator Marco Sammicheli’s goal was to make the exhibit feel like a house that someone “lived in right up until moments before the exhibition opened.” That was certainly achieved here. Walking through the exhibit, viewers would see crumpled bed sheets, dirty dishes, and laundry hanging on the line. An interesting pinboard shows knick-knacks like medals, coins, Post-its, and keychains.
Such items contrasted with Sempé’s unique designs. In the corner of the living room stood one of her first creations, the PO/202 floor lamp that was illuminated from within. The kitchen also had small objects that she designed for various brands. They included Alessi cutlery, Iittala plates, and a Mustache clock.
Sempé’s decades of experience in the design industry have made her value the longevity of her pieces. She refused to put them on a pedestal, stripping them of their use in daily life. “I find that quite boring, and I don’t need to be looked at as if I were an artist; being an industrial designer is enough for me,” she said in an interview with the museum’s magazine.
This exhibit will be on display in the Triennale Milano Museum until September 15.
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About
Celine first read Charlotte’s Web at the age of five–and she hasn’t stopped turning pages since. Her favourite authors are Mona Awad and Nat Cassidy. Besides writing for Tatler, she listens to BTS and spends time with her family.
Work
Celine took up secondary education with a major in English, graduating from De La Salle University in 2023. She advocates for female empowerment through creative expression by writing for Tatler Homes.
For story leads or inquiries, you may reach out to her via celine.dabao@tatlerasia.com.
