Yabu Pushelberg and cc-tapis collaborate to convey the nostalgia and aura of fleeting memories through the Memento collection.
On September 14, Yabu Pushelberg and cc-tapis celebrated their latest collaboration: Memento. A collection of seven hand-knotted rugs produced by Tibetan artists, the rugs were on display for attendees to appreciate and admire.
cc-tapis, an Italian rug maker, releases contemporary rugs produced by the Tibetan artisans in Nepal. Each rug is handmade – from hand spinning Himalayan wool to then weaving it, each step aims to preserve the traditional methods the artisans have passed down over the years.
Yabu Pushelberg is a North American design studio that specializes in interior, product, lighting, textiles, and styling. In addition to meeting the aesthetic requirements of clients, the studio’s primary emphasis is on how they make people feel. This is not an easy thing to do, yet somehow it’s remarkably evident in the Memento collection. Upon first glance, it appears as though we’re looking at gallery art pieces. Plush and stunning, these rugs balance what it means to be functional as well as beautiful.
When asked about the inspiration behind the collection, Pushelberg stated that it began with exploring their architectural roots and buildings, before deciding to “amplify those images into shapes that seem otherworldly.”
“It was almost a quick study of taking some simple notion and pushing [the idea].”
As I spoke with Interior Design Hall of Fame inductees Yabu and Pushelberg, it became evident that one question they challenge themselves to face is “why not”? The curiosity to challenge the status quo remains the driving force behind the inspiration, and fuels their ability to recreate and continually break free where others might be boxed in. Unafraid to erase the bounds of that traditional architects and designers find themselves adhering to, their creativity and talent has led them to take on some major projects over the years, some notable ones include the Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo and remodeling the Tiffany & Co. New York flagship store.
In Memento, Yabu Pushelberg use broad curves and geometric minimalism to blur reality into a dream realm, disorienting time and space. The images are strangely familiar, yet they can’t be traced back to anything in particular. We try to remember, and yet we simply cannot. Just as memories evolve within us, the fluidity of the landscapes invite each onlooker to unveil different narratives within themselves. It’s a powerful feeling and one that surely is stuck with me as I anticipate what’s to come.
The studio is headquartered in New York at 66 White Street, with another location in Toronto, Canada.