of gaaarden x Matt Hope
At the 2024 Modern Contemporary Art Fair, we partnered with artist Matt Hope for a groundbreaking joint exhibition. By merging his bio-industrial acoustic sculptures with our curated selection of limited-edition collectible design, we created a visionary dialogue between art and everyday living.
The Awakening of Acoustic Sculptures
In this exhibition, we proudly presented Matt Hope’s pioneering audio installations that challenge the dominance of visual perception. His Bleep sculptural speaker resembles an alien probe, blending human and non-human aesthetics to capture the exact moment a cybernetic machine gains internal life. Similarly, his wall-mounted Gaudi speaker utilizes industrial aluminum foam to create an organic, deep-sea-like form that delivers exceptional low-frequency audio. Complemented by his hand-carved geological acoustic forms and sound-themed paintings, we invited visitors to feel the physical "sedimentation" of time and sound through raw, uncovered industrial media.
Reimagining Tension in Collectible Design
Intertwined with these acoustic works is our curated selection of museum-tier collectible design, each piece challenging material conventions. We showcased the Slashed seat, where a tightly rolled foam cylinder bursts open through a single bold cut, permanently altering its form beneath a hand-painted digital textile. We also featured iconic limited editions such as Ron Arad's Bad Tempered chair, reimagined in lightweight carbon fiber and Kevlar, alongside Gaetano Pesce’s dramatic Broadway 543 and Nobody's Perfect green chair—pieces that reject rigidity and celebrate the uniqueness of the maker's touch. Further enriching the space, Seungjin Yang’s Blowing Armchair makes a stunning appearance, transforming fragile balloons into solid, glass-like furniture through eight coats of epoxy resin.
Sustainable Innovations and Artistic Debuts
Continuing our exploration of futuristic aesthetics, we spotlighted the latest creations from Dirk Vander Kooij. Masterfully crafted from 3D-printed recycled plastic, his new pieces—including the Selenite vase, Tol floor lamp, Satellite table lamp, and Staple side table—exemplify our commitment to sustainable innovation without compromising artistic integrity. Adding a deeply personal layer to the event, the exhibition also marked the public debut of a collaborative painting co-created by our founder, Junpeng Li, alongside artist friends. Through this diverse curation at the MODERN fair, we successfully demonstrated how avant-garde art, experimental acoustics, and collectible furniture can seamlessly coalesce within a shared living garden.
