Dusty pink from top to bottom and 239 works of art line it’s walls… Celebrated artist, David Shrigley and star-architect, India Mahdavi have transformed the Gallery at sketch as part of a long-term programme of artist-conceived restaurants.
The Gallery at sketch, a collaboration between restaurateur Mourad Mazouzand and celebrated chef Pierre Gagnaire.
India Mahdavi, who has created a backdrop for David Shrigley’s artwork, conceived a soothing, monochromatic, strikingly comprehensive interior. The classic, almost bourgeois design invites a deliberately playful contrast with the witty, outré art works; all is most certainly not what it seems.
The interior design has slightly reminiscent of 1970s feel. Incorporates custom-made Bidendum-like bulbous chairs and curvaceous matching banquettes upholstered in cotton velvet, with a chic injection of copper dotted around and appearing on the furniture bases and also the lamps, bar stools and joinery edges. The whole space is grounded by glorious chevron-patterned and multi-coloured tiles on the floor and the majestic glass dome above. Mahdavi was delighted to accept Mourad Mazouz’s invitation to create a new setting for David Shrigley’s installation. She says, ‘The location and space are the starting point of any of my projects and each project is like an open question, for which there is a unique answer. Each project tells that inner story.”
Shirgley created all 239 wallpieces just for this project, it is the largest presentation of the artist’s work ever exhibited. The artist also made campy additions to the dinnerware – for example all white ceramic salt and pepper shakers are labelled ‘dust’ and ‘dirt’. Shirgley comments: “I’m delighted to be working with sketch on such an exciting commission… It will be the first artwork that I have made that can go into the dishwasher“. Now the Turner prize nominated cartoonist has turned the London restaurant into one big pink piece of art.
In addition, fashion designer Richard Nicoll has been enlisted to create bespoke uniforms for the Gallery restaurant staff to wear. For the girls, the design is a play on Nicoll’s signature T-shirt dress silhouette; for the boys, a smart, grey boiler-suit. “For the sketch uniform project I liked the idea of creating elegant and utilitarian uniforms for the staff that reference a diner look but in a very modern and sophisticated way”, explains Richard Nicoll.
India Mahdavi homepage
David Shrigley homepage
Gastro-Brasserie sketch
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