Carolina Wilcke (Leiden The Netherlands, 1980) graduated at Design Academy Eindhoven last year. In Basel Priveekollektie will internationally introduce the refined installations by this promising newcomer. The tranquil Tafelgenoten combines three-dimensional objects with photography. 4D Cabinet, inspired by her preceding design KamerRekwisiet, will also be introduced. Both works show Wilckes fascination for the interface between function and decoration.

Wilcke created KamerRekwisiet (Room Prop) as her graduation project. This piece was inspired on the theatre world, in which stage props (representations of requisites) are used to illustrate a story. KamerRekwisiet is designed for the home and living environment to serve the same purpose as a theatre requisite. Wilcke: "I believe that our environment has a strong influence on our state of mind. I miss love and attention in the building style of most houses that are built today."

KamerRekwisiet is a partition made of plain oak with coloured areas of different kinds of thread. As a three-dimensional painting it gives the space atmosphere and warmth. Wilcke’s 4D Cabinet, inspired by KamerRekwisiet, is the next step in the development of this concept. The open structure of the cabinet is subordinate to its content. It is like a blank canvas on which the user ‘paints’ a story, by placing the objects in the cabinet.

Tafelgenoten shows Wilckes knowledge of the history of art. Seventeenth century painters showed their versatility by painting diverse textures in still- lifes. Wilckes photograph of a still-life, existing of the tableware that is part of the installation, clearly refers to that. Moreover, the installation as a whole seems to be a reflection of this important period in the Dutch art history, as Wilcke shows her craftsmanship in the execution of each of the objects. However, Tafelgenoten is more than a still-life. To Carolina Wilcke these objects are like persons, as she explains: "Unique individuals make a company on the table, just like the company at the table. Differences of color, material, skin, size and shape, but still a group." Looking at the installation from this perspective, Tafelgenoten seems to be a reflection of society rather than ‘just’ a still-life.