MISCHER-TRAXLER’S KINETIC INSTALLATION FOR PERRIER-JOUËT

An interactive installation presented by the Viennese design duo and the celebrated champagne house at Design Miami 2014

At last year’s Design Miami, we were captivated by the beautiful and perplexing light installation from champagne house Perrier-Jouët and designer Simon Heijdans presented. This year, Perrier-Jouët has commissioned a installation from Vienna-based design duo mischer’traxler that also leaves visitors scratching their heads.

‘Ephemerā’ is the first in a series of work that has sprung from a year-long artistic residency titled ‘Small Discoveries’. The installation explores the relationship between humans and the natural world using a field of delicate metal plants that play hide-and-seek with visitors. Embedded in a wooden table top, the plants spring up when they sense they are not being watched, only to disappear upon detecting an exterior presence.

The mirror acts much in the same way. Vines grow across the glass, but only as long as no one is near. The magical action encourages visitors to play and interact with the table, while simultaneously provoking a parallel consciousness of our affect on nature.

Perrier-Jouët’s Style Director, Axelle de Buffévent, explains, “We chose mischer’traxler for our first, year-long residency as we felt there was a natural synergy between us. At Perrier-Jouët, we are eternally inspired by the Art Nouveau ethos of celebrating beauty and the natural world, whilst valuing craftsmanship and infusing art into the everyday. Katharina and Thomas’ work brings this essence to life.‘Ephemerā’ is made with integrity, and is thought-provoking. For us it also marks a return to the decorative object, which is something really close to our hearts.”