general installation view of ‘dun roamin’ by walter raes all images courtesy of walter raes

belgium-born london based artist walter raes is most known for his ‘wearable art’, projecting a certain wit and visual pun through his work. raes’ practice is steeped in the surrealist traditions of his native country, in combination with an ecological stance. in the oratory house during london design week 2011, he presents ‘dun roamin’, an installation which features a meticulously worked vintge room, where each piece of design within has been transmogrified from found objects. upon closer inspection, the traditional british suburban space delivers a sharp comment on waste, as each familiar object turns out to be a pile of inventively reassembled trash.

behind the humour of raes’ work is a serious message: ‘there’s so much waste, it makes me cringe, I want people to know how much effort goes into manufacturing everyday things,‘ he says.

new pieces on show include ‘back home chest’, ‘deb’s delight vase’, ‘fresh comfy chair’, ‘fish lamp’, ‘frying-time clock’,  ‘gilded pallet table’, ‘safety light helmet, ‘sole fruit bowl’ and ‘a ‘light’ serving’. 

walter raes at london design week 2011 detail of ‘dun roamin’

walter raes at london design week 2011 ‘frying-time clock’

walter raes at london design week 2011 ‘fish lamp’

walter raes at london design week 2011 ‘missing’

walter raes at london design week 2011 ‘gilded palette table’