Functionality and playfulness collide and adorn this Aire De Jeux, French for 'playground', by Brooklyn, New York-based Forom. For the pop-up exhibition on view from January 13 – 18, 2025, Forom's Tribeca showroom morphs into a curated space featuring a selection of European designers and their respective characteristic styles. Alongside the distinctive product designs celebrating deft craftsmanship, the design exhibition also unveils Forom's exclusive collection Nature Revisited, compositions of unique stone and stainless steel carefully handmade to complement any space. The pop-up offers visitors a sophisticated space to interact with and experience the carefully curated works closely.
The showcase, curated meticulously by Forom, brings together a range of pieces from the partner designers—all representing the company's commitment to discovering fresh furniture designs that can inspire. The pieces often draw from items that elicit nostalgia and memories. Embodying a combination of functionality and playfulness, the presented work speaks of Forom's version of a playground. Studios such as Faina, Six Dots, Canoa Lab, Noom and Made by Choice contribute reimagining of familiar elements to the show. Monolithic pedestals, hand-carved wooden furniture, Tetris-inspired shapes, chequerboards, teddy bears and geometric blocks, among other objects, exude both nostalgia and singularity.
Forom's exclusive white-label collection Nature Revisited also debuts in the exhibition space. This furniture design series reimagines nature's fundamental forms through bold materials and design—celebrating strength, adaptability and the beauty of the familiar. Each design emanates from simple mundane elements, injected with rich significance; forms like the moon, the tide and stone are explored through new perspectives to reveal deeper meaning. Materials such as marble, stainless steel, and solid wood render the pieces timeless while being harmonious with nature. The contrast between cold, hard surfaces and warm wood pays homage to the equilibrium of the natural world through innovation and modernity.
The Marea lounge chair is a sleek and sculptural piece constructed using high-quality stainless steel with a mirror-polished finish. The polished steel exudes a dramatic shine while mirroring its surroundings; its curvaceous form flows seamlessly from the rounded base to the top of the backrest, emulating the tide’s waves. The chair's modular design allows for multiple creative configurations that can elevate both commercial settings and residential spaces. The rugged beauty of a rock becomes the defining trait of the Poly lounge table. The recessed base of the table design makes the polygonal shapes appear weightless and floating. To create a cohesive contemporary look, the lounge table can be paired with the Poly side table.
The Nature Revisited collection also features the Cairn pedestal, a sculptural and functional piece drawing inspiration from the balance of Cairns—stacked stones symbolising harmony and calm. With a cuboidal base of elegant marble, the pedestal is topped with an inverted pyramid shape; the broad base speaks of stability, while the angular top depicts an upward movement. Chair designs such as Etang and Whisper complete Forom’s new ensemble. The Etang dining chairs and counter-height stool designs feature organic and fluid shapes in their rounded seats. The solid wood frame contrasts the irregular curves, achieving an appealing visual balance. The Whisper dining chair exhibits a similar combination of materials, a dialogue between soft and fluid-formed cushioned seats and wooden structures.
Aire De Jeux lays bare an enticing tryst between nature, nostalgia and contemporary design where allusions to ponds, tides, trees, clouds (and more) and their inherent fluidity implicitly occupy the exhibition space. A playfulness emerges from conspicuous contrasts—cold and warm surfaces, sleek and irregular forms, natural and industrial materials—all epitomising equilibrium, a nod to the natural world and whimsical memories.
'Aire De Jeux' is on view from January 13 – 18, 2025, at Forom's Tribeca showroom, New York.
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