Curated by Nolan Talbot Kelly and Annaka Hoelk, Obj:Obj presents a cross-section of Vancouver’s contemporary furniture, lighting and objects. This show gathers independent studios working across varied materials and design practices to explore a single curatorial question: how does an idea become an object?

To make that inquiry visible, each participant has paired a finished piece with the object that inspired it — a found fragment, material sample, memory or concept. Placed side-by-side, viewers can trace the dialogue between reference and resolution. Some responses are literal and formal — a chair shaped from the form of a dried squid or vases derived from discarded bottles — while others are more conceptual, where the paired object stands in for an idea or process that guided the work. Obj:Obj is a chance to look behind the curtain, and witness the varied paths that designers take to develop ideas into outcomes.

Above all, this show is a gesture towards building community. By bringing diverse practices into proximity, visitors and peers alike can discover unexpected affinities and foster paths of connection among Vancouver’s contemporary design community.

Opening Night: Sep 26, 7–10 PM
Exhibition Hours: Sep 27–28, 10 AM–6 PM