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Wouldn't it be nice...Wishful thinking in art and design

Until 21 December 2008

Expect wit, subversion and a constantly-changing programme of events and performance from
this major exhibition of contemporary art and design. The galleries come to life with work from
Ryan Gander, Jurgen Bey, Dunne & Raby with Michael Anastassiades, Bless, Dexter Sinister,
Alicia Framis, Martino Gamper, Marti Guixe, Tobias Rehberger, Superflex and Chosil Kil. 

Ryan Gander talk on Thursday 20 November
Artist Ryan Gander in conversation with Wouldn’t it be nice… curator Emily King. Gander will be discussing art and design in relation to the themes of the exhibition, as well as his own practice and projects.

Ryan Gander cards tournament on Saturday 22 November
Join Ryan Gander and graphic design collective Europa for a cards tournament. The newly-devised card game will be played with parallel cards, double-sided playing cards invented by the artists.

See the calendar below for more information.

Book Online Now or call 0844 847 2427 (booking with Ticketmaster)

An ever-changing daily programme of performances, events and talks take place alongside the main exhibition. Events are included in the price of your ticket unless listed with a 'book now' link. 

September


© Per Tingleff

Ongoing Exhibition

Until 21 December 2008
Embankment Galleries

Noam Toran

The MacGuffin Library, Noam Toran
and Onkar Kular

Wednesday 17 September - Sunday 5 October
The Studio

October


© Per Tingleff

Ongoing Exhibition

Until 21 December 2008
Embankment Galleries

Noam Toran

The MacGuffin Library, Noam Toran
and Onkar Kular

Until 21 December 2008
The Studio

© Chosil Kil

Cocoon, Chosil Kil

Tuesday 6 October -
Sunday 26 October

The Studio
© Per Tingleff

Talk: Dunne & Raby

Thursday 16 October,
18.30-19.30
The Screening Room

Dexter Sinister

Dot Dot Dot Magazine Evenings

Wednesday 29 October
Thursday 30 October
Friday 31 October
The Studio

November


© Per Tingleff

Ongoing Exhibition

Until 21 December 2008
Embankment Galleries

Noam Toran

The MacGuffin Library, Noam Toran
and Onkar Kular

Until 21 December 2008
The Studio

Trattoria

An Inventory of Aliases (åbäke and friends)

Monday 3 November -
Sunday 16 November
The Studio

© Angus Mills

Trattoria Al Capello

Monday 3 November
The Studio

Trattoria

Social Pasta

Friday 7 November
The Studio

A pattern emerges (Chrissie and Patti) - 2008, photographic print

Talk: Ryan Gander

Thursday 20 November,
18.30-19.30
The Screening Room

The Embankment Galleries come to life with work from 10 leading artists and designers. Jump on Bless' life size leather and foam car, devise new games with Ryan Gander's cards and experience Dunne & Raby's Robots, each with their own personality.

The MacGuffin is a cinematic plot device that sets and keeps a story in motion. This library of 20 objects is based on fictional film plots, and will be designed, manufactured and catalogued in the gallery. Visit our fully working laboratory and watch the collection of objects being created on-site in a rapid proto-typing machine. 


The Embankment Galleries come to life with work from 10 leading artists and designers. Jump on Bless' life size leather and foam car, devise new games with Ryan Gander's cards and experience Dunne & Raby's Robots, each with their own personality.

The MacGuffin is a cinematic plot device that sets and keeps a story in motion. This library of 20 objects is based on fictional film plots. It was designed and manufactured by a rapid proto-typing machine and has now been catalogued in a space adjacent to the gallery.

Chosil Kil’s cocoons visualise the assimilation process of a foreigner arriving in a new city. By assembling locally found materials (in this case debris from our last exhibition), she will create a new shelter in a week-long residency.

Free with exhibition ticket.

In conversation with Embankment Galleries curator Claire Catterall.

Book now

Click here for full details.
Dexter Sinister organise three nights of talks, which will create the content for the next issue of internationally renowned arts journal Dot Dot Dot. Dexter Sinister will effectively compose a 'live' issue of the complete journal, existing in 'real' time before being hardened into printed form. 
Limited capacity. Book now

 

The Embankment Galleries come to life with work from 10 leading artists and designers. Jump on Bless' life size leather and foam car, devise new games with Ryan Gander's cards and experience Dunne & Raby's Robots, each with their own personality.

The MacGuffin is a cinematic plot device that sets and keeps a story in motion. This library of 20 objects is based on fictional film plots. It was designed and manufactured by a rapid proto-typing machine and has now been catalogued in a space adjacent to the gallery.

Click here to download full listings 14 days, 14 different events including: Kitsuné’s All Day Disco (disco ball included), årälien Froment exhibition, cutting edge architecture magazine Sexy Machinery editorial meeting and a virtual tour of On Purpose, an exhibition curated by åbäke at the Arnolfini Gallery in Bristol.

Designer Martino Gamper and friends design every aspect of the guerrilla restaurant, including the furniture, tableware, cutlery and food. Join them for this one-off dining event in the gallery.
Limited capacity > book now

 

Graphic designer Alex Rich and friends will prepare and serve food while you watch a movie, with food chosen to reflect the story of the film. (Limited capacity)

> book now

Artist Ryan Gander in conversation with Wouldn’t it be nice… curator Emily King. Gander will be discussing art and design in relation to the themes of the exhibition, as well as his own practice and projects.

> book now

Join artist Ryan Gander and graphic design collective Europa for a cards tournament. The newly-devised card game will be played with double-sided playing cards invented by the artists.

Booking essential, limited places. To book, email: exhibitions@somersethouse.org.uk

Free with exhibition ticket.

Visit the Confirmatory where designers Julia Lohmann and Gero Grundmann will work in residence making natural objects conform to human standards; laminating leaves and performing plastic surgery on branches.

Free with exhibition ticket.

The Embankment Galleries come to life with work from 10 leading artists and designers. Jump on Bless' life size leather and foam car, devise new games with Ryan Gander's cards and experience Dunne & Raby's Robots, each with their own personality.

 

Visit the Confirmatory where designers Julia Lohmann and Gero Grundmann will work in residence making natural objects conform to human standards; laminating leaves and performing plastic surgery on branches.

Free with exhibition ticket.

The MacGuffin is a cinematic plot device that sets and keeps a story in motion. This library of 20 objects is based on fictional film plots. It was designed and manufactured by a rapid proto-typing machine and has now been catalogued in a space adjacent to the gallery.

In conversation with Alice Rawsthorn, Design Critic of the International Herald Tribune.

 

> book now

Walk away with unique gifts and one-off design pieces bought directly from designers including Tatty Devine and Lady Luck Rules OK.
Ticket to SuperChristmasMarket just £2, which includes entrance to the Wouldn’t it be nice… exhibition.

 

Ryan Gander

Ryan Gander & Europa

Saturday 22 November
13.00-18.00
The Studio

Julia Lohmann

The Confirmatory: Nature Contained

Thursday 27 November -
Sunday 21 December
The Studio

December


© Per Tingleff

Ongoing Exhibition

Until 21 December 2008
Embankment Galleries

Julia Lohmann

The Confirmatory: Nature Contained

Until 21 December 2008
The Studio

Noam Toran

The MacGuffin Library, Noam Toran
and Onkar Kular

Until 21 December 2008
The Studio

The Modelworld Maquette - 2007, Styrofoam, paper

Talk: Jurgen Bey

Thursday 11 December
18.30-19.30
The Screening Room

Super Christmas Market

Friday 19 December, 18.00-21.00
Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 December, 10.00-18.00
The Studio
£2 entry

 

Our media partner for this exhibition is Icon Eye:

Logo Iconeye.com

 

An exhibition by the Centre d’Art Contemporain Genève and Emily King in co-production with the Haute école d l’art et de design – Genève and the Museum für Gestaltung Zürich.

3 courses for £24.50 @
The Admiralty Restaurant

plus a glass of prosecco
> more

Entertaining at Somerset House

For opportunities to entertain within our galleries and architectural spaces.
> more