Follow us, subscribe to our newsletter
Subscribe
Exhibition and Events Onsite

Jorg Boner & Christoph Hefti

Story of Shelter

Exhibition and Events Onsite

Jorg Boner & Christoph Hefti

Story of Shelter

April – May

OPENING
Saturday 18 April, from 4pm to 8pm

OPENING HOURS
From 19 April to 16 May from
Thursday to Saturday from 3pm to 7pm

Special Openings during Art Week and Design Week
from 19 to 26 April from 11am to 7 pm

The project by Jörg Boner and Christoph Hefti draws inspiration from a mountain hut and reflects on the idea of shelter and human isolation in the faced with the power and resilience of nature.

The theme and its development reflect the individual trajectories of the two creators: Boner has long explored the link between the concepts of reduction and structuralism in a poetic and radical manner, whilst Hefti is primarily interested in the surreal and dreamlike qualities inherent in everyday environments. Together, they transform the shelter, the archetype of refuge, into a place of storytelling, ambiguity and experiential depth. The immersive installation explores how a shelter can offer protection and at the same time reveal mystical dimensions: realities that manifest when a place is uninhabited and are discovered as soon as it is inhabited. Boner and Hefti use the contradiction between presence and absence as an artistic driving force, creating a work that oscillates between practical function and storytelling.

 

With the support of

Biographies

Jörg Boner (1968) initially trained as a cabinetmaker and technical draughtsman before going on to study design at the Höhere Schule für Gestaltung in Basel. After graduating in 1996, he began designing a wide range of products, furniture and spaces, distinguishing himself through the high quality of his work. Since 2001, he has run his own studio, jörg boner productdesign, based in Zurich, where he works with a team of two designers. Alongside his professional practice, he taught for over ten years (2003–2014) at ECAL in Lausanne.

In his studio, he develops everyday objects, ranging from thermos flasks to street lamps, intended for both large-scale industrial production and the creation of unique pieces. His works are characterised by an essential and functional formal language: useful objects that, at the same time, express a precise design intention. Throughout his career, he has received numerous international awards, including the IF Gold Award, the Design Prize Switzerland, the Good Design Award from the Chicago Athenaeum and the Grand Prix Design.

 

Christoph Hefti (1967) is a textile designer and artist who lives and works between Brussels and Zurich. He studied textile design in Zurich and subsequently obtained a master’s degree in fashion from Central Saint Martins in London.  He began his career working for Jean-Paul Gaultier in Paris and subsequently for Dries Van Noten in Antwerp, where he worked for thirteen years as a creative assistant, focusing on the development of printed fabrics. Throughout his career, he has collaborated with various fashion houses, including Lanvin, Balenciaga, Acne Studios and Mugler.
Alongside his work in the fashion world, Hefti has developed an independent artistic practice that encompasses hand-knotted rugs, video and performance.

His rugs are primarily produced in Nepal and combine elements of folklore, symbolism and surreal imagery. His works explore themes related to nature, spirituality and the invisible realms, blending mythological references with contemporary craftsmanship.