Design Transfigured: Waste Reimagined

Design Transfigured/Waste Reimagined is the first exhibition to recognize a fresh approach to addressing the current state of our depleted and polluted environment; an extreme and inventive kind of upcycling. In a religious context, transfiguration is “a complete change of form or appearance into a more beautiful or spiritual state.” Waste is overtaking natural resources, but these 30 pioneering international designers and studios—from Asia, Latin America, and Europe—consider it a resource to reclaim and radically transform into useful products, providing a new direction in design. Over 40 works are being presented in the Maria & Alberto de la Cruz Art Gallery and the Lucille M. and Richard F. X. Spagnuolo Art Gallery.

Dutch Invertuals, an innovative design studio, based in Eindhoven, Netherlands and known internationally for their creative work in the realms of architecture, design, and curatorial projects have designed the exhibition. The exhibition platforms, pedestals, and seating are being fabricated from REALLY, an innovative fiberboard sourced from textile industry waste and manufactured in Denmark; REALLY was developed by exhibiting designer, Christien Meindertsma. The exhibition is guest curated by Ginger Gregg Duggan and Judith Hoos Fox of c2-curatorsquared.

Funding is generously supported by Maria & Alberto de la Cruz, the Georgetown University 2019 Laudato Si’ Fund, Creative Industries Fund NL, and the Netherland-America Foundation; additionally this program is supported as part of the Dutch Culture USA program by the Consulate General of the Netherlands in New York.