Heatherwick Studio
As the 2012 Summer Olympics are fast approaching their finale, I thought it was time to talk about a design element that I find fascinating. Over the summer I saw the exhibition Heatherwick Studio at the V&A. Having little prior knowledge of Thomas Heatherwick and the extraordinary work produced in his studio, I was blown away by the exhibition. The creativity and engineering skill that the Heatherwick studio possesses is unbelievable. Needless to say, I’ve been transformed into a Heatherwick fan! The exhibition remains open until September 30 so if you have the chance be sure to stop by – and be ready to spend a good amount of time in the exhibition. I only had an hour to go through the exhibition and feel that wasn’t enough. The exhibition is text heavy despite the compact gallery space. The life-size reproduction of a redesigned London bus was definitely a favorite aspect of the exhibition for me.
So what is the connection between the exhibition, the Heatherwick studio, and the Olympics? The creative minds at Heatherwick studio are the geniuses behind the 2012 Summer Olympic cauldron. I believe a prototype of the Olympic cauldron is now on display at the V&A, as the cauldron itself has been revealed. Among the various discussions regarding the costumes on display during the opening ceremony and during competition in sports such as gymnastics (those sequins!), swimming, and various others, I have been most impressed with the cauldron itself and the design studio behind the piece. Perhaps this is due to my exposure to Heatherwick in London, and the interest I now have in the studio, but I still think it’s important to consider all aspects of design when studying fashion and dress. I have always been drawn to and inspired by the decorative arts as a whole, so it’s no surprise I’m drawn to the work produced by Heatherwick! I hope you’ll share in my love of the Heatherwick studios and their work from the past and in the future.
Read more about the Olympic cauldron here.
Photograph courtesy of The Guardian.
