A quick head's up for all you design junkies, I know you're out there right now Instagramming your way to bliss.
Here's a fast way to access the real thing.
The Cooper Hewitt is holding its Design Triennial. Now some of us know that triennials, as in Milano, are rather big affairs with room-size objects and architecture.
The CH has gone the other way. A small, one and a half floors of highly-curated objects that are "beautiful."
What is beauty? How is it defined? The curatorial staff has divided up the spaces.
For my part, this is overthinking. Beauty as we know is in the eye of the beholder. I'm not sure we need it so neatly subdivided and categorized.
What stands out instead: Digital imagery is infusing everything from elegant clay pots to plastic canopies to dress and jewelry design. And many of the artists are from the Netherlands or Scandinavia, traditionally home to fine craftsmanship, where the word craft is lauded rather than appearing to be second rate to "artist."
Many of the objects surely are Instagram-ready (and ready for your house or body, if you can afford them) but those are not necessarily the ones that caught my eye.
Daniel Emma, from Australia has designed marvelous desktop accessories, a Cork Cone to hold push pins and a Magnetic Tower for paper clips.
Industrial Facility from England, reminded me of the Herman Miller desk accessories they design which are displayed like a village.
Lauren Bowker, founder of UK Theunseen has made an extraordinary leather jacket that changes color in response to heat and wind.
Iris Van Herpen, a Dutch designer has made the dress I wish I could wear co-designed by Jolan van der Wiel from filings and resin. LOVE.
Courtesy Cooper Hewitt
Sou Fujimoto from Japan, has once again delighted the eye with his mini constructions out of everyday things that are better than a doll house. This time what caught my eye was his model made out of staples.
Finally, I suggest all of you who are addicted to Botox instead follow the lead of Israeli designer Noa Zilberman who has accentuated forehead wrinkles with gold, like a tiara.
Beauty is as beauty does.
Courtesy Cooper Hewitt