From January 21 to February 6, 2010, Kueng Caputo, a Swiss-born designer/artist duo, creates a cardboard hotel room within a gallery space which promises five-star comfort and luxury in spite of low-cost disposable materials. The accommodation will be offered free of charge during the gallery’s regular hours (Tues. – Sat. 11am-6pm).
Sarah Kueng and Lovis Caputo (a.k.a. Kueng Caputo) welcome gallery visitors to enter a simple white box they first designed in 2006. Constructed with plain cardboard, the lightweight and portable box folds out in a second at any location. The naturally warm interior is designed for relaxation or even an overnight stay; a guest can rest his/her upper body on the mattress and pillow inside, while stretching their legs outside the box. Yet, the really surprising feature is the interior walls decorated with delightful laser-cut pop-outs and soft, warm LED lights. This portable, instantly accessible accommodation, Five Star Cardboard, offers a uniquely simple and inexpensive solution for people seeking a quiet, private, and inspiring space amidst an often hectic public area.
Although the exhibition will showcase only one such hotel room, Kueng Caputo has adapted this idea into several thematic rooms with different patterns and colors, i.e., Classico Romatico, Italian Lover, Sogni del Bambini, and Bosco di Hawaii. Kueng Caputo allows visitors or guests to choose a room to match their taste by presenting a pop-out model representing each style. These models will be displayed as part of the exhibition and available as limited-edition sculptures. In addition, their by-product “Table Scenery,” their bird, fish, and flower-pattern table decoration is a playful do-it-yourself kit also available during the show.
Sarah Kueng (b. 1981) and Lovis Caputo (b. 1979) both studied at HGKZ, Department of Industrial Design, Zurich, Switzerland between 2004 and 2008. Since 2006 they have collaborated as Kueng Caputo (www.kueng-caputo.ch) on innovative projects such as Five Star Cardboard and Copy, exploring mundane materials and environments to exercise and reflect high design/architectural concepts. Kueng Caputo has been invited to museums, galleries, and design/art fairs worldwide, including venues in Zurich, Basel, Milan, Cape Town, Seoul, Osaka, Tokyo, and New York. Their work is currently on view in the group show “Rock Garden” at Salon 94, New York.
More info:www.myartprospects.com
Tags: Cardboard Hotel Room, Kueng Caputo, Lovis Caputo, new york design, Sarah Kueng
