Dodo Turns 25th with a New Knot
On the occasion of its Salone del Mobile, Dodo presents the celebratory collection "Nodo", in collaboration with the Chinese-American artist Windy Chien
We met Windy Chien during the Milan Design Week at Dodo's 25th celebration in its boutique in Corso Matteotti.
Windy, why did you choose the knot as main symbol of your art? What does it represent to you?
Knots look simple, but they have many layers of complexity. They are perfectly-engineered objects, each with a single, specific function. They are important historical objects that have been used for hundreds of years. Third, they are a language —the language of knots— spoken by sailors and farmers and craftspeople all over the world, regardless of which country or continent they live. They are the tools of my art, and what I bring to the intersection of function, science, history, and language is aesthetics. My goal is to show the journey of a line through the knot.
What are the main links between art and jewelry? Is it your first time you work in partnership with a jewelry brand?
Art tells a story. It communicates a message from the artist to the viewer. In the same way, jewelry also tells a story. Perhaps it is a story we tell ourselves, or from one person to another. It speaks about values and it symbolizes emotion.
The smallest and the biggest knot you have realized?
The easiest, most simple knot is the Overhand Knot - everyone knows it, and it is the first step when we tie our shoes.