Is there a renewed interest in craft? ‘Poème Brut’, a new exhibition opening this week at the Design Museum in Gent, answers with a clear and loud YES !

In recent years, designers focus has shifted to manufacturing processes and materiality as a counterpoint to globalisation and dematerialisation. A central theme in the exhibition is the outcome of this research into materials and techniques. Some designs use old, forgotten materials and new techniques or technology to process them, while others are the result of an old craft in combination with a new material.

All the design objects are tactile, with a poetic undercurrent and a largely ‘rough’ and ‘unfinished’ design idiom. ‘Poème Brut’ at the Design Museum in Gent zooms in on the designer as a maker, as an alchemist who is inspired by the special properties of matter and innovative ways for processing it, as well as its potential in a contemporary context.

The curators Siegrid Demyttenaere and atelier lachaert dhanis selected international iconic designers, as well as emerging young talent. The ensembles show surprising combinations, atypical confrontations and new insights.

Designers: Anne Marie Laureys Ceramics; Atelier NL; BELéN; Ben Storms; Bram Vanderbeke; Carlo Lorenzetti; David Huycke; Dirk Vander Kooij; DWA; Ferréol Babin; Formafantasma; Hans Henning Pedersen; Jólan van der Wiel; Jonathan Muecke; Kwangho Lee; Lisa Ertel; Matthias Kaiser; Max Lamb; MdSt; Michael Young; Nendo; Olivier van Herpt; Roxane Lahidji; Rudolf Bott; Sigve Knutson; Sophie Rowley; Studio Furthermore; Studio Mumbai; Studio Swine; Tamara Orjola; Thomas Ballouhey; Tom Price.