Hasta La Ideas

As designers working in New York City, David Weeks and Tobias Wong had met on and off through industry gatherings like the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) and local New York exhibitions and events. In preparation for this week’s opening of BrokenOff BrokenOff, Weeks shares memories of his first encounter with Wong over a vodka cocktail and the myth behind the inspiration for his tribute piece, “There is Something About Giving Into Your Desires.”

David Weeks: When I would first read about [Tobias Wong], they’d write about him like “the bad boy” or some sort of enfant terrible. And then once you’ve met him you’re like, “oh, he’s just a really smart, funny guy.” Although we had met on and off at the ICFF and other things, my first real memory of him was when he did [Wrong Store, 2007] that storefront that wasn’t really a storefront. Then he had a little vodka dispenser on his belt and he’s squirting these funny cocktails. I think that was one of the first times I put it all together. And I loved it. It’s like he’s thumbing his finger at the industry, which is so rare, and frankly, I don’t know anybody else that does it. He’ll be missed for that for sure, but I think that was the first time I put him, his work, on the level of sense of humor and charm.

Tobias Wong, “Wrong Store,” 2007

I think we had the same sense of humor on a lot of the different things—not taking this whole thing that seriously. [Tobias] did such a good job at meshing art and New York-style sarcasm and satire into his work. But then, [objects] like the Kevlar rose [Ballistic Rose, 2008] is so elegant. That piece was so perfect; it had the humor. It had everything. When he hit his mark, he was dead on. It was such a nice thing. He’s fantastic and almost a sole voice for the design industry here in the US.

And then eventually we were both part of the group Marc Thorpe organized. I had the opportunity to finally get to know him somewhat over the last year, which was such a treat, an unexpected bonus. Tobi on the last meeting, he was totally running that meeting, He was like Truman Capote with these big glasses on—and hardcore, like really belligerent, but in a really funny way.

Core77: Can you tell me a little bit about your process for choosing a piece of Tobias’ to start off with for the show?

The tattoo that Jenny Holzer wrote on his arm; I thought it was just such a compelling story. And just everything about it: “Wait, he had the wherewithal to have a pen on him?” or think, “Oh, can I get an autograph?” To ask, “Could you write something on my arm?” and to pick the spot for it perfectly right there in the middle of his forearm, to make it permanent to top it off and then have it be such a great quote. Was Jenny Holzer so on that day that she just had that [phrase] right in her back pocket? And he was just so on that he knew exactly where to put it and keep it. So, that’s the thing I was compelled by. It just led to such a visceral kind of statement, and it’s that nice thing between design and art. Jenny Holzer’s comment is all about desire and consumerism.

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