Bucks &amp; Oxon


<p><em><a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Memphis: Plastic Field (opens in a new tab)" href="https://mkgallery.org/whats-on/memphis-plastic-field/" target="_blank">Memphis: Plastic Field</a> </em>is a kitsch-cool exhibition running at the MK Gallery until 12 September on the Italian design and architecture group, The Memphis Group. </p>



<p>If you&#8217;re feeling a little lost, never fear. Here&#8217;s your 101: Rebelling against the grey and merlot tones of 1970s interiors, The Memphis Group&#8217;s USP was bright colours, bold shapes, and unusual textures. </p>



<p>The exhibition, which first ran briefly in December but had to stop for lockdown, displays over 150 of the design collective’s most significant objects. Here&#8217;s a sneak peak of some of our favourites. It&#8217;s a look but don&#8217;t touch exhibition we&#8217;re afraid, but definitely offers a bit of well-needed interiors inspo&#8230; or just a lift from these endless grey skies?</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Carlton, 1981</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/05/Carlton.width-1500-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-116322" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/05/Carlton.width-1500-1.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/05/Carlton.width-1500-1-300x300.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/05/Carlton.width-1500-1-500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/05/Carlton.width-1500-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/05/Carlton.width-1500-1-525x525.jpg 525w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/05/Carlton.width-1500-1-200x200.jpg 200w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Wooden shelves were <em>so </em>1970s, apparently. A book cabinet? Get outta town — real stylists stored their fiction in a plastic laminate, primary-coloured, multi-layered sculpture. Designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1981, the &#8216;Carlton&#8217; was a bright, geometric home for books, and also a cool room-divide. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Super, 1981</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="500" height="500" src="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/05/Super.width-1500-1-500x500.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-116324" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/05/Super.width-1500-1-500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/05/Super.width-1500-1-300x300.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/05/Super.width-1500-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/05/Super.width-1500-1-525x525.jpg 525w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/05/Super.width-1500-1-200x200.jpg 200w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/05/Super.width-1500-1.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" /></figure>



<p>It&#8217;s a dinosaur, it&#8217;s a hedgehog — no, it&#8217;s a lamp! Made from fibreglass in 1981 by Martine Bedin, the &#8216;Super&#8217; was designed as a table or floor light with just that extra bit of pizazz. A certain&#8230; <em>je ne sais quoi</em> that products these days are definitely missing.  </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Ginza, 1982</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/05/Ginza.width-1500-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-116323" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/05/Ginza.width-1500-1.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/05/Ginza.width-1500-1-300x300.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/05/Ginza.width-1500-1-500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/05/Ginza.width-1500-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/05/Ginza.width-1500-1-525x525.jpg 525w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/05/Ginza.width-1500-1-200x200.jpg 200w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Frankly, if you&#8217;re not storing your underwear inside a 5&#8217;7 robot cabinet, you&#8217;re doing something wrong. Designed by Masanori Umeda in 1982, the &#8216;Ginza&#8217; is made primarily from wood, with plastic laminate shelves and drawers </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Big Sur, 1986</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="781" src="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/05/Big_Sur.width-1500-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-116321" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/05/Big_Sur.width-1500-1.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/05/Big_Sur.width-1500-1-360x281.jpg 360w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/05/Big_Sur.width-1500-1-640x500.jpg 640w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/05/Big_Sur.width-1500-1-150x117.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/05/Big_Sur.width-1500-1-672x525.jpg 672w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Picture this: it&#8217;s been a long day. Finally home, you collapse onto your ombre, geometric &#8216;Big Sur&#8217; sofa — what else? Designed by Peter Shire, this funky living room essential is made from 100% wool with a lacquered wood frame.  </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Photo of The Memphis Group, 1981</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="718" src="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/05/Tawaraya_with_the__designers_of_the_Memphis_g.width-1500-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-116325" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/05/Tawaraya_with_the__designers_of_the_Memphis_g.width-1500-1.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/05/Tawaraya_with_the__designers_of_the_Memphis_g.width-1500-1-360x258.jpg 360w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/05/Tawaraya_with_the__designers_of_the_Memphis_g.width-1500-1-696x500.jpg 696w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/05/Tawaraya_with_the__designers_of_the_Memphis_g.width-1500-1-150x108.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/05/Tawaraya_with_the__designers_of_the_Memphis_g.width-1500-1-731x525.jpg 731w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Gang gang! Taken in 1981, this photo shows the members of The Memphis Group lounging on Masanori Umeda&#8217;s &#8216;Tawaraya&#8217; boxing ring, which had been designed that same year. Who knows what bright, geometric patterns were running through their minds&#8230; </p>



<p>See more of The Memphis Grouo&#8217;s designs on display at <em><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://mkgallery.org/whats-on/memphis-plastic-field/" target="_blank">Memphis: Plastic Field</a></em>, running at the MK Gallery until 12 September. </p>


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