Two’s a pair at the V&A live pictures

Two’s a Pair Designersblock and The V&A

Two’s a Pair celebrated famous design duos and collaborative working in contemporary design through installations, talks and workshops. There are loads of pictures from the evening on the V&A’s Flickrstream.

Furuhælvetica

Pick up a pine block as you enter the Museum and find your match to add to the growing tower! The Norwegian team Furuhaelvetica put a twist on our perception of pine, re-establishing some affection for the wood through new applications and expressions.

You’ve Lost Your Marbles

With only a rope, some chalk sticks, sets of marbles and score cards you can enter the world of champions. Glass artist and designer Matt Durran has re-imagined this simple children’s game in the Museum space. Of course there will be referees and an oversized marble as the prize.

It Takes Two to Tango

Italian design group Arabeschi di Latte staged an interactive performance, inviting visitors to feed each other using giant spoons.A reflection on solidarity and cooperative spirit, an opportunity to share your dinner.

Elisabeth Buecher for Puff & Flock Siamese Accessories

Elisabeth Buecher, part of the textiles collective Puff and Flock, has created a series of wearable costumes including tails, tentacles, heads and backbones, which will only function if worn by two visitors at the same time. Participants will became Siamese twins and formed a new creature.

Elisabeth Buecher for Puff & Flock Siamese Accessories

Fantastic Broomstick Bodge

Live loveseat making with furniture designers William Warren, Gareth Neal, Chris Eckersley and others. The team will demonstrate the art of bodging for pairs of visitors camme along ready to contribute to creating some romantic centrepieces.

Emerald Faerie – A Pair of Shoes

Emerald Faerie premiered three films themed around shoes and inspired by the work of Terry De Havilland. For women, shoes influence their walk, give them a sense of power and become objects of desire. These films (‘Sound of the Shoe’, ‘Smoke and Mirrors’ and ‘Pain and Grace’) accompanied by musicians and dancers, explore the theatrical presence of shoes. She also created a dainty new version of her famous Cinderella’s Revenge Chandelier.

Interspecies Collaboration: Bespoke Bee Hives

Industrial designer Kevin Hill, concept designer Vanessa Harden and artist Ben Faga have come together as Built By to develop a custom-designed beehive that allows them to work with honey bees. Through inter-species collaboration, they are redefining the concept of community. A spindle hive is on display for one night only, as well as a video of the central hive in Dalston.

Two’s a Pair, Memory Game

Test your skills with this giant game of Memory. With original illustrations and prints by leading international artists, this is your chance to pair up and match a set of cards. Winners get to take one home.

Connectivity- Valentina Gonzales Wohlers

Inspired by traditional Mexican party tricks, Valentina Glez Wohlers has reclaimed the popular game Toques (or Taps). Consisting of a small wooden box with batteries to act as conductors of energy, this activity is sure to get your attention. Join hands to feel the electric bolt, and see if there’s a spark between you!

Please note, this activity is not suitable for pregnant women or individuals with heart conditions.

Couples Design Counselling

Six specially-commissioned films featuring interviews with design duos, such as Pinch (Oona Bannon & Russell Pinch), Raw Edges (Yael Mer & Shay Alkalay), LBN and Associate (Luciana Britton Newell & Duncan Riches), Hemingway Design (Geraldine & Wayne Hemingway), Fredrikson Stallard (Patrik Fredrikson & Ian Stallard) and Two Create (Lucy Nunn & Tobie Snowdowne). Learn about how these collaborators balance work and family life, and about how their personal relationships inform their professional practice.

Charlie Davidson Two’s Cool

For one night only Charlie Davidson has installed a pair of ‘cool’ chairs in the National Art Library. We encourage you get cozy on them while watching one of the design duos in Couples Design Counselling.

Designersblock Sound System – Reeps 1

UK 2009 Beatbox Champions Reeps 1 entertained and awed the crowd of design connoisseurs and small children with an array of sounds. No electronic effects were used.

Designersblock Sound System – The Broken Hearts

DJ Duo the Broken Hearts , whose sets have been described by The Independent as ‘a Hollywood musical on hallucinogenics’, played everything from 1930s oddities to calypso, swing, hip hop and dancehall. I like the reflection of Nisha’s dress in the top of the CD player.

Designersblock Sound System – Bud

Bud being forced to pose moving switches and looking like he knows what he’s doing, when he’d rather have been deciding whether to play The Shangri La’s or perhaps some Wilson Pickett.

Menu by Hawaii Design

The ‘Mitten’ graphics for ‘Two’s a pair’ were created by Designersblock friend and collaborator Hawaii Design

Download the Menu

In the spirit of cooperation (and fun), meet a friend or introduce yourself to a stranger–– you can’t go it alone!

Photographer: Peter Kelleher / V&A images, Connectivity pictures courtesy of Valentina Gonzales Wohlers, Emerald Faerie close up courtesy of Bud Moore, Two’s Cool picture courtesy of Charlie Davidson.