Table Manners Exhibition Questions Why Cutlery Design Remains Standardized
Curator Georgia Smedley is set to launch 'Table Manners,' an innovative exhibition that reexamines cutlery design. Debuting during Melbourne Design Week 2026, this showcase includes a combination of newly crafted sets and pieces from The Kraftsman collection, spanning historical and contemporary designs. The project, initiated three years ago, involved collaborations with curators Gemma Savio and Simone LeAmon from the National Gallery of Victoria. Prominent designers like Belle Thierry, Julian Leigh May, and Hamish Munro contribute to the event, aiming to inspire attendees to reflect on the personal significance of dining and the uniformity of eating utensils.
Key facts
- Curated by Georgia Smedley of Object Massive
- Exhibition is part of Melbourne Design Week 2026
- Features newly commissioned cutlery sets alongside historical pieces from The Kraftsman collection
- Idea originated three years ago while Smedley worked at National Gallery of Victoria with Gemma Savio and Simone LeAmon
- Participating designers include Belle Thierry, Julian Leigh May, Hamish Munro, Hamish Donaldson, Sebastião Lobo, Studio Yeodong Yun, Streifen, Snelling Studio, Studio Kyss, Ryan Mueller, Soie Lait, and Tai Snaith
- Exhibition design by Streifen, presentation partner Union Magazine
- Installation photography by Matthew McQuiggan
- Smedley questions why cutlery design has remained narrow despite variability of eating
Entities
Artists
- Georgia Smedley
- Gemma Savio
- Simone LeAmon
- Belle Thierry
- Julian Leigh May
- Hamish Munro
- Hamish Donaldson
- Sebastião Lobo
- Studio Yeodong Yun
- Ryan Mueller
- Soie Lait
- Tai Snaith
- Matthew McQuiggan
Institutions
- Object Massive
- National Gallery of Victoria
- The Kraftsman
- Streifen
- Union Magazine
- Snelling Studio
- Studio Kyss
- designboom
Locations
- Melbourne
- Australia
- Lisbon
- Portugal