Vicente Wolf

I beleive no matter how unusual a person wants to be, there will always remain to be an element that will relate their different work and projects to each other. I doubt that you would do something that would leave people aleinated since the soul of what you do is reinterpreting the usual and making it unusual. I think a showhome is the ideal space where a designer can break “boundaries” not necessarily in a bad way. Maybe trying to break these boundaries, especially that there is no client with needs and demands, would create a new wave of new demands that cleints did not realize before.

For me, most truly creative rooms have real world translations. I quit going to showhouses (not that we have anything on the level of Kips Bay) because I am rarely inspired. I know that the vision will come to you and everything will fall into place beautifully.

Vicente – I’ll bet you can do both an artistic statement and something to which viewers can relate. I agree with Tareq’s concept, but would bring it full circle to say that you also have showed how the unusual can become usual, i.e. comfortable and familiar. Interior design practiced by a creative mind that looks at it as one does architecture, painting or writing elevates the practical art to a fine art. And it relates to the recent discussion about originality. Your original ideas have broken with tradition by reinventing it. So Kips Bay is an opportunity not to repeat yourself but to solve a space in practical, comfortable, and new way that makes everyone say: “Now why didn’t I think of that?”

But if you have an idea that you really want to do, even though you feel it may conflict with the program, I would go with your instincts as you encourage us to do! We have new challenges at the beginning of the 21st c that invite new artistic expression. I think honoring the tradition of the 1920s Paris Exposition would be wonderful. – Gary

Why not do both? New thinking and creative expression do not have to be alienating. “Give them what they never knew they wanted,” as the lady said. You can do that better than anyone.

Please go for the artistic inspiration.
I want to relate to something that I don’t even know I want yet!
We are in a time of mediocrity (largely due to the economy etc.) with the result being lots and lots of “safe” pedestrian design.
You actually owe it us to inspire and ignite passion/creativity.
There are plenty of workhorse designers out there that can take what you do and make it applicable to the general public.
You have the talent to take our breathe away, please do so.

I say express yourself to the utmost and make it a memorable occasion for the visitors! I have been to so many that have left me …ho hum!

Hi Vincente….
That’s just it, your work is special whether you label it commercial or not. You have a deep understanding of how to use scale and proportion in an out-side of the box way while using just a mirror, or just a table. I can’t imagine that if you went “artistic” this year, the result would not still be beautifully liveable. By the way, the show house in 2008 was particularly disappointing. It looked to me like a lot of expensive product, but no creative use, and no beautiful result.

Perhaps the best starting place to answer this question is another question: why, after all these years, did you decide to do the showhouse again?

If you went the artistic route, do you think someone
(maybe even you) could later translate your room (or the ideas in your room) into something that is more generally relatable and/or commercially minded? In fashion, designers often send down the runway amazing and inventive looks which are never going to see the inside of a department store or boutique: they are incredible, but they are an artistic expression, not necessarily for commercial consumption. People still draw inspiration from them nonetheless, and eventually translate the grand, artistic piece into something that is more commercially minded.

So thrilled you will be participating in the show! I will be in town in May for ICFF and will be sure to plan a visit to the show house to see your work. I’m sure it will be stellar. I’d love to come by the showroom as well so I can take spics for a blog post.

Jackie

Vicente – Clearly your admirers (including me), most of whom are design professionals, are on the same page about this. But just to bring the idea full circle, let me ask you as a businessman about your clients points of view. Is your brand primarily the signature spaces and ideas you’ve done so far, or is part your continued ability to innovate and bring them something original? (I guess that’s a loaded question.) – Gary

vicente – i saw your work in ’91 and it still would be very appropriate today – dining is theatre and so are showhouses – that being said what don’t you do something based on some of your earlier work – maybe even from the patino/wolfe days ? whatever you do it will be both memorable + inspirational for all who see it

First, thank you, Mr. Wolf, for including my blog website here. I am truly honored. Secondly, can you tell me when Kips Bay will be open to the public? I will be visiting NYC next month with a girlfriend and wondered if it would be open to the public at that point.

Your design-work inspires me tremendously.

I am a little late to join the discussion here, but i have to agree iwth Oscar Wilde on this one..:-) “the critic has to educate the public; the artist has to educate the critic.’

I’m a little late to this, but I thought this quote was apropos.

-Be bold and courageous. When you look back on your life, you’ll regret the things you didn’t do more than the ones you did.-

So, Vicente, you ARE an incredibly gifted designer, but more importantly you are an artist that pushes boundaries and people are drawn to your work due to it. I say go for it!

Vicente, there is no conflict between these goals. Art that people can relate to — that EXPANDS THEIR VISION of the possible — is for instance what my illuminated paintings are about. They are beautiful and light up a space, bringing nature into a room, but are also intellectually rigorous, challenging many accepted truths in contemporary art. See what I mean at peterbynum.com — innovative design and boundary-pushing art that moves people to a new way of looking at the world. Which is what art should do.

I adore your work. I am both an interior designer and write in the field. I think we have some responsibility to push people. I always tell my clients that I want to create a space they will grow “into” not “out of”. Conscious human beings grow. We don’t shrink into the past. It is the responsibility of a designer to stretch both ourselves and our clients. This keeps the work alive. So, do both!

I just learned the showhouse will take place in the fall – looking forward to it!