Design Miami/Basel 08: Dutch designer Jurgen Bey and architect Rianne Makkink present a new series of work for Chinese gallery Contrasts in Basel this week.

Called Cleanliness is next to Godliness and inspired by the apparent Chinese obsession with cleaning, the series consists of cleaning cabinets made of traditional Chinese luxury materials such as silk fabrics and porcelain, plus a dining table (above) and a porcelain bathtub (below).

Makkink and Bey created the pieces while taking part in the gallery's residency programme in China.Makkink and Bey created the pieces while taking part in the gallery's residency programme in China.

Here's some info from Contrasts Gallery:

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The Gallery is currently collaborating with Dutch designer Jurgen Bey and architect Rianne Makkink’s Studio Makkink & Bey. The Studio is re-inventing traditional Chinese art and craft techniques with its highly conceptual Cleanliness is next to Godliness series.

Inspired by the beauty and optimism of Chinese propaganda posters, the Studio has re-imagined propaganda for the overlooked world of cleaning by using precious Chinese porcelain, silk fabrics, woodwork, and reverse inside painting. Cleaning cabinets are made luxurious, composed of Chinese silk fabric boxes, which can be self-assembled on top of a wooden base. They are filled with gloves and aprons embroidered with cleaning ladies and other helpers, a delicate porcelain mop, broom, and dustpan with hand-sculpted details, and other surprises.

Studio Makkink & Bey
cleaning-beauty-dining-table, 2007 (above)
Traditional Chinese boxes, fabric, wood with porcelain, embroidery, and Bone
China contents
H68 x W246 x D110 cm
Edition of 8

Studio Makkink & Bey (shown above)
cleaning-beauty-bathtub, 2008
Porcelain
H141 x diam. 100 cm
Edition of 8
(ladder not pictured)