Artist and Designer Tobias Wong, 1974-2010

Had lunch with a friend today and he told me some sad news I had missed - artist and designer Tobias Wong died last week. Seeing his work and the reactions to it, it seemed he had a really honest awareness about what his creations were about, what they should be used for, and the multiple levels of consideration that they should be taken at. The luxury chrome box-cutter. Capsules to take so your next bathroom visit sparkled with gold or silver flakes. The “Killer Engagement Ring” with the diamond’s cut point facing outwards (ideal for marring mirrors at an ungracious host’s party). The gold McDonald’s cocaine spoon from his Indulgence collection. A winter glove with a hole in it to more easily hold your cigarette.

I didn’t really know him; I met him once, on the sidewalk on the opening night outside of a small pop-up store he did in Chelsea, called the ‘Wrong Store’, where a large group of people gathered, chatting, seemingly waiting for the chance to go in, but that was the joke: you were never allowed to go in - it was perpetually locked shut. He wandered amid the crowd, talking with those there, in his element. Behind the crowd, beautiful and rare objects seen through the store’s windows, masterfully curated, were all there to set up the stinging gag that you still couldn’t buy them. It always looked like he executed his ideas with such ease. I will miss seeing new work.

New York Times obituary. More links and musings over here.