Sidewall, Topographies

Gift offer of two wallpapers produced by Calico, including "Topographies" designed by Snarkitecture, and "Microcosmos" designed by BCXSY. Calico began a collaborative process with a number of artists and designers to explore process and materials, developing a series of unique collectiions that unearth the possibilites of landscape. "Topographies" and "Microcosmos" resulted from this collaboration with both being introduced at the 2017 Milan Design Fair.

“Topographies” transforms a three-dimensional project of torn and layered paper into a two-dimensional wallpaper. Stacks of paper were literally torn by hand and then reassembled to create a stepped topography. With the paper being stark white there is a delicate play of light and shadow caused by the rough-torn edges and irregular surface of the paper. This creates a very tactile surface producing a subtle trompe l’oeil design.

They have created installations for the National Building Museum in Washington, DC; Design Miami/ 2012; and the Delano Hotel for Art Basel Miami Beach. Installations are created in predominantly white or monochromatic color schemes with a noticeable absence of color. They also have a collection of furniture and lighting which shows a creative reworking of the object’s typical or expected form.

Calico uses photography and digital printing to turn original hand-crafted designs into large-scale non-repeating wallpapers. There are currently two Calico wallpapers in the permanent collection.

Sidewall, Topographies; Designed by Snarkitecture; Manufactured by Calico Wallpaper; digital print; L x W: 457.2 × 132.1 cm (15 ft. × 52 in.); Gift of Calico Wallpaper; 2018-6-1