Uppercut Gallery's summer exhibition at Chateau de Spycker
Works by six contemporary designers displayed in a neo-gothic villa setting.
1Contemporary design in neo-gothic villa
Antwerp-based Uppercut Gallery presents works by six contemporary designers in the stately halls of Chateau de Spycker near Bruges. Danish Alexander Kirkeby's glass pieces and French Nicolas Zanoni's melted polystyrene furniture contrast with the 19th-century villa's historic atmosphere. Titled God Speed, the exhibition spans three distinct rooms of the neo-gothic chateau, creating a dialogue between eras.
2International design showcase
Belgian Linde Freya Tangelder, South Korean Yoon Shun, New York-based Greek designer Kiki Goti, and British Joel Muggleton's LS Gomma studio are among the featured designers. This marks Uppercut's fourth annual summer exhibition at Chateau de Spycker since director Scott Lippens founded the gallery in 2023. While previous editions were confined to single rooms, this year's show extends through the entry hall, dining room, and drawing rooms.
3Dialogue between history and modernity
Contemporary works interact with period details like decorative wall moldings, gilded furniture, and marble fireplaces in each space. Lippens cites Venice's newly inaugurated Fondazione Dries Van Noten as inspiration for this approach. 'I've embraced how antiquities clash with contemporary design,' Lippens notes, highlighting the unexpected harmony between these contrasting elements throughout the exhibition spaces.
4Material-driven design philosophy
The exhibition highlights designers' expertise in material processes. LS Gomma's metal mesh and PU rubber Drunken Vessels, Zanoni's melted polystyrene furniture, and Goti's hand-blown glass vases exemplify this focus. Lippens attributes Uppercut's distinctive identity to his fashion background, which cultivated a material-centric perspective that continues to inform the gallery's curatorial choices and designer collaborations.
5Transformation of Chateau de Spycker
Once a summer residence for aristocratic families, the villa was purchased by Lippens' family two decades ago and transformed into a guesthouse by his mother, fashion buyer Caroline Grootaert. While the gallery prepares to move to a dedicated space in Antwerp, it continues utilizing this atmospheric venue for summer exhibitions. The property's rich history provides a dramatic backdrop that enhances contemporary pieces with historical context.
6Rapid installation, lasting impact
Lippens reveals growing confidence in layering different scenographies with each exhibition. The summer show's installation was completed in under four hours, reflecting his developing curatorial instincts. Acclaimed presentations at Paris' Matter and Shape and Collectible fairs in New York and Brussels have elevated Uppercut's international profile, establishing Lippens as an emerging force in collectible design curation.
7A rising star in design world
Uppercut evolved from Lippens' side business trading vintage mid-century furniture, initially operating from his art-deco apartment in Antwerp. His transition from fashion design education to collectible design was fueled by material knowledge and passion for working with emerging talent. This background shapes Uppercut's distinctive approach, blending rigorous material experimentation with accessible design storytelling.
8Exhibition pushing design boundaries
God Speed offers a striking example of how contemporary design can engage with traditional spaces. Material experiments gain new meaning within historical contexts, while Uppercut's curatorial approach breathes fresh life into design exhibition practices. The show solidifies the gallery's position in the international arena, demonstrating how thoughtful juxtapositions can expand design's conceptual and aesthetic possibilities.