installation view of atelier van lieshout’s ‘WWIII’ exhibition presented during milan design week 2012 photo by ilco kemmere

on the occasion of milan design week 2012, dutch furniture manufacturer lensvelt celebrated 12.5 years of working together with dutch designer / artist atelier van lieshout (AVL). the central focus of the show space was the ‘gigantic blue cannon’ (WWWIII, 2010), which stood as a symbol of the powerful partnership between the two. the industrial object also referenced AVL’s recurring themes of work organization, power structures, revolution and autarky. this exposition presented an overview of the large number of furniture pieces that were developed together between lensvelt and AVL, and was the platform for introducing the newest pieces as a result of their long standing collaboration including: ‘spider’ chair and ‘koker’ chair.

atelier van lieshout for lensvelt   world war III furnication general view of ‘cannon’ centrally set amongst AVL’s furniture pieces developed collaboratively with lensvelt photo by ilco kemmere

atelier van lieshout for lensvelt   world war III furnication new and old works of AVL surrounded the ‘cannon’ including his ‘office’ chairs and ‘workbench’ for lensvelt photos by ilco kemmere

atelier van lieshout for lensvelt   world war III furnication left: one of AVL’s newest designs for lensvelt the ‘spider’ chair right: along one side of the exhibition space was a display of AVL’s more sculptural furniture works produced over the course of their practice photos by ilco kemmere

atelier van lieshout for lensvelt   world war III furnication ‘koker’ chair with arm rest photos by frans strous

atelier van lieshout for lensvelt   world war III furnication profile and back view of the ‘koker’ chair photos by frans strous

atelier van lieshout for lensvelt   world war III furnication ‘koker’ chair photos by frans strous

atelier van lieshout for lensvelt   world war III furnication profile and back views of ‘koker’ chair photos by frans strous

atelier van lieshout for lensvelt   world war III furnication ‘spider’ chair hotos by frans strous

atelier van lieshout for lensvelt   world war III furnication alternative views of ‘spider’ chair photos by frans strous

atelier van lieshout for lensvelt   world war III furnication ‘cloud’ table photo by frans strous atelier van lieshout for lensvelt   world war III furnication photo by frans strous