When the legendary Charles Eames was asked if he designed for pleasure or function, he famously responded, "whoever said pleasure wasn't functional?" However Design Miami isn't just about functionality or an object's elemental property. The event champions the vision of international designers who seem to transcend the traditional boundaries of their craft be it sculpture, architecture or ceramics.  At Design Miami, expect an eccentric variety of creations that are swathed in a captivating   m©lange of materials, mediums, forms, so to play up the idea of subversion.

White Bronze Bench. Designed by Terence Main. Exhibited via the Magen Gallery.

The Magen Gallery (New York) will be exhibiting select works from renowned designers Pierre Szekely, Howard Meister, Terence Main and Francois Stahly at the event.  The gallery is well known for its affinity to pre-eminent French post-war designers whose design aesthetics arise from their worldly sensibilities without any pretense. Hence, be it Howard Meister's Cabinet (2006) or Terence Main's White Bronze Bench (2007) all seem to accentuate the synchronization of materials and forms to create an unswerving landscape.

As a History major its hard not to succumb to the charms of the White Bronze Bench, which looks like a relic from an age past. While I am quite aware that the table isn't historic or from the Bronze Age, the metalworking technique gives it an illusion being steeped in antiquity. Designed by Terence Main, who specializes in cast metal sculptural furniture, the bench looks fairly ceremonial and would even get the nod of approval from the QÄ«ng dynasty!

If  the Bronze Bench has a sense of drama around it then Howard Meister's Credenza Cabinet is all about minimalism. Highlighting intelligent design, Mesiter' has used materials like MDF, silicon, and industrial wheels. In spite of not using any complicated techniques, Mesiter has managed to articulate his inspiration adroitly and quite capriciously.

This is what the Magen gallery has to say about its collection: "Maintaining the integrity of the design, many works in the collection are sui generis or limited in edition. The vision of the gallery operates outside of ephemeral trends, presenting functional art that is timeless."