In yesterday's post we looked at plasters and at the symbolical meaning of bandages in art; let's continue the health and art thread by looking at another item that we associate with physical impairment, but with elegance as well – sticks and canes.
Whether serving as a necessary aid due to a long-standing condition or a temporary accident, or functioning as a stylish accessory to embellish one's ensemble, sticks and canes possess a multifaceted symbolism. From indicating authority, power, and religious status - think of croziers or pastoral staffs carried by high-ranking prelates - to their portrayal in folklore where wizards employ them to cast spells, these objects transcend mere functionality. But sticks can also be a design object, as an exhibition at Milan's Triennale tells us.
"Walking Sticks & Canes," curated by Keiji Takeuchi, held at the Quadreria space, features indeed 18 sticks crafted by international designers.
Born in Fukuoka, Japan, Keiji Takeuchi worked for Naoto Fukasawa before moving to Milan where he established his own design office. This is the first exhibition curated by Takeuchi, who is also collaborator of various companies, including Millerknoll in the US, Fredericia in Denmark, and Boffi De Padova in Italy.
Rather than embarking on a tedious historical exposition tracing the evolution of sticks over time, Takeuchi wisely directs our focus to the present. After all, as he warns in the materials accompanying the exhibition, it is not possible to go back in time to the very first cane, that was probably made when someone picked up a small branch, trimmed off the smaller twigs, and used it for a walk in the woods.
The impromptu item made on the spot because it was needed, then evolved through time: many of us probably conjure up visions of the dandy par excellence, Oscar Wilde, pictured with a cane (View this photo; some readers may remember that his ivory-handled walking cane inscribed with Wilde's initials and his cell number at Reading Jail (C33) was sold at an auction in 2009 for £7,275).
Others think about fashion shows, with models carrying walking canes to add a flamboyant accent to their looks (think Ralph Lauren's Fall 2012 collection View this photo), and at canes with distinctive handles and knobs in different materials including porcelain, hand carved wood, ivory, glass or bakelite.
Fans of crime dramas, may instead conjure up Henri/Henrietta in "Black Mafia Family" (BMF) leaning on her stick with a snake-shaped handle (a biblical reference? View this photo), a mark of power for this complex personality.
Takeuchi, instead, limits himself to collecting fine examples of sticks by designers he admires and inviting visitors to contemplate them and consider the importance of this essential tool.
The exhibition features an array of designs with different handles going from the tourist (inverted "J" shape), and opera (inverted "L" shape), to the offset (in the shape of the number 7).
Sticks and canes range from sleek and lightweight creations by Alberto Meda and Cecilie Manz to minimalist pieces like Takeuchi's L-shaped "Up" and Henri Frachon's "10 Holes" a cross-over between a bamboo cane and a flute.
Some designs prioritize functionality, such as Anker Bak's addition of a metallic hook for securing the cane to a table, or merge confort with design, like the circular handle of Cadorna (reminiscent for its shape of Marcille's wooden staff in the Japanese manga series "Delicious in Dungeon" by Ryōko Kui View this photo).
Others verge on the surreal, like Chris Liljenberg Halstrøm who magnified a needle with thread and came up with a cool walking cane (could this become a sartorial statement or will this design scoop Halstrøm a collaboration with a tailor/fashion house?)
Moreover, there are innovative designs that transform the cane into a multipurpose tool: Hugo Passos' incorporates a basket, Julie Richoz's converts into a flower vase, and Marialaura Irvine's features a convenient pretzel-like knot for carrying a newspaper. Sustainability takes center stage with Wataru Kumano's interchangeable handles going from a solid rectangle that turns the stick into Thor's hammer, to more comfortable ones, and Ville Kokkonen's bio-based cellulose walking stick.
"Walking Sticks & Canes" will coincide with the local Design Week (until 20th April), offering a glimpse into the intersection of functionality and artistry that may extend in future for Takeuchi into a collaboration with institutions organising exhibitions suspended between design and health such as the Wellcome Collection.
For those of us finding ourselves reliant on these aids, there's a silver lining: we might just be setting the next trend. You can indeed bet that the theme of this event will at some point inspire luxury fashion houses their own collection of fancy walking sticks.
In the meantime, let's get on with life and limp into another day as best as we can, taking inspiration from icons like Marlene Dietrich, who effortlessly incorporated an elegant cane into her style after she had an accident and injured her right ankle while filming The Lady Is Willing (View this photo), or following Takeuchi’s advice to infuse our personality into these essential tools, transforming them into sources of pleasure and pride.
Image credits for this post
All images courtesy of La Triennale, Milan
1 and 2. "Walking Sticks & Canes" by Keiji Takeuchi, Installation views
3. Basket by Hugo Passos. Photo: Julien Renault
4. Gianni by Marialaura Irvine. Photo: Natalia Garcia
5. UP by Keiji Takeuchi. Photo: Keiji Takeuchi
6. Cadorna by Julien Renault. Photo: Julien Renault
7. 100% Bio-based rigid cellulose walking stick by Ville Kokkonen. Photo: Ville Kokkonen
8. Small Gestures by Julie Richoz. Photo: Miro Zagnoli
9. Threading a Needle by Chris Liljenberg Halstrøm. Photo: Miro Zagnoli
10. Your Stick by Wataru Kumano. Photo: Wataru Kumano
11. 10 Holes by Henri Frachon. Photo: Miro Zagnoli
12. Golden steps by Pierre Charpin. Photo: Miro Zagnoli
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