Welcome to Edit #6 of ISLAND POST.
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In this Edit: People and brands that trigger our childish nature, fantasy, imagination, and urge to play, and those for whom experimentation and play are at the core of their work.
Francesca <3
DRAWINGS FOR EVERY LIFE SITUATION: MONJA GENTSCHOW
I totally feel it! I’m what Germans call a ‘Warmduscher’, i.e. a wimp, or literally, someone who takes warm showers. I really love them, against all current ice tub trends and longevity recommendations. I adore Monja Gentschow’s drawings and illustrations; there's usually one for every life situation, providing a good laugh in between. Monja Gentschow is an artist, art director, and illustrator based in Berlin. Her work is commissioned by various brands, magazines, and newspapers. Some of her illustrations, like the one mentioned above, feature words by Sarah Radowitz. Check out her Instagram account for a good mood boost.
PORCELAIN POETRY BY CCONTINUA AND MAMT
Chiara Caselli (CContinua) and Francesco Carrasso (Mamt) are an Amsterdam-based creative duo. I first encountered their work in 2021 at EDIT Napoli, a furniture fair that brings together artisan designers. Their collection of illustrated ceramics, which they refer to as 'tattooed clays,' explores the art of hand-poke tattooing—a technique that has been an integral part of Mamt’s artistic journey. Their work is incredibly poetic and playful to me, evoking beautiful, primitive, and childish emotions. In their White Lava collection words and drawings conjure the moon and its surrounding mysteries: mermaids, fish, sea waves, and stars are elements of this dreamy imaginary. On the other hand, the Turchino collection comprises six handmade ceramic plates illustrated with drawings inspired by folk and fairy tales, such as 'Alice in Wonderland' and 'Rapunzel.' Follow their Instagram accounts for news, exhibitions, and releases.
ADADA’S TOYS FOR KIDS AND GROWN-UPS
Adada is a French company based in Berlin, making adorable teddies and wooden toys. Their teddies are made from high-quality Oeko-Tex fabric, ensuring they're both safe and durable. Each of their teddy bears has its own personality and story. Take Gisel the cat for example: she is notably coquettish and has a fondness for Liberty dresses (you can choose a dress!!!), which remind her of her flowery garden. Then there's Helmut the pig, hailing from the picturesque Bavarian village of Oppennau. Despite the stereotypes, Helmut is both elegant and impeccably clean. These teddies have become my go-to gift for all my friends' babies and kids, available in various sizes suitable for babies, older children and adults alike.
ADADA store
BRUNO MUNARI’S CHILD WITHIN
Bruno Munari (1907–1998) was an artist, futurist, and designer who dedicated his creative activity to every form of experimentation, in the fields of painting, sculpture, design, photography and didactics. His belief was to always be in communication with the child within us that we sometimes forget in modern life, and to keep the child in us alive so we can stay curious and in touch with our creativity. Even though a lot of his work is in Italian, his language is universal. Among his best known works are ‘illegible writing of an unknown people’, ‘a chair for very brief visits’ and ‘talking forks’. Since September 2023 you can see some of his work at Spazio Munari in Milan, a space curated by publisher Corraini, collecting and exhibiting the editorial work published in more than two decades of collaboration between the artist and the Corraini family.
SPAZIO MUNARI space
ALEXANDRA LEWELLYN’S BACKGAMMON OF DREAMS
It's probably going to remain just that for the near future - a dream (given the prices), but I've been daydreaming about owning one of these wonderful backgammon boards ever since I discovered them. Alexandra Llewellyn, based in London, crafts luxury board games, card games, and play tables that are true works of art. The creation process varies with each project, but many of her designs feature marquetry—a meticulous technique where pieces of wood are cut, assembled like a puzzle, and then hand-lacquered for a smooth finish. Each of Alexandra Llewellyn's backgammon boards travels through up to nine different craft workshops, incorporating a variety of materials such as rare woods, marble, and brass from concept to completion.
ALEXANDRA LLEWELLYN Shop