Hidden Drawers and Surreal Lips Design Make Kissing Cabinet a Functional Art Piece

FDT Bureau

The Kissing Cabinet, a creation by industrial designer Adam Goodrum and straw marquetry artisan Arthur Seigneur, collectively known as A&A, recently won the prestigious Melbourne Design Week Award presented by Mercedes-Benz. This innovative piece of furniture blends functionality with artistry, combining abstract aesthetics with the traditional craft of straw marquetry. Know more about it on FURNITURE DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY (FDT).

The annual award, which comes with a USD5000 prize, acknowledges exceptional contributions to Melbourne Design Week and the broader Australian design industry. The Kissing Cabinet stands out with its impressive size, vibrant colours and fluid shapes. It features hidden drawers that can store small treasures, and when closed, its components align to resemble a surreal pair of kissing lips. This piece exemplifies A&A’s approach to marquetry, which defies the mass production trends by emphasizing unique, collectible design objects.

Goodrum and Seigneur appreciate the freedom they have in the Australian market to experiment with marquetry, a craft less common there compared to other regions. The duo began conceptualizing the Kissing Cabinet three years ago, dedicating an entire year to its creation. According to Seigneur, this project reflects a slower, more deliberate approach to craftsmanship, contrasting with the fast-paced production demands of contemporary society. A&A’s creative philosophy focuses on producing emotionally resonant art that challenges conventional practices and builds on their previous work. The Kissing Cabinet is an evolution of a piece they created for Louis Vuitton’s 200th birthday, which featured a trunk that turned inside out. The Kissing Cabinet is on display at Tolarno Galleries, located at level 5, 104 Exhibition Street, Melbourne, from May 25 to June 1.

Image credit: NGV / Andrew Curtis