Twisted Sister: Kia Utzon-Frank at Collect Open

The studio’s practice encompasses six strands that could hardly be more different: KUFcakes, her evolving edible experiment with sculptural cakes; KUFjewellery, where she puts her goldsmith training to work; KUFstring, her string-sculpture arm; KUFstuff, her doesn’t-fit-anywhere-else small-project box; KUFideas, the creative methodology behind her prolific and seemingly endless variety of output, and KUFtwist – the sub brand devoted to her award-winning shutter system: the Louver Twisting Comb.

This remarkable feat of engineering is, essentially, an adjustable blind system whereby every slat can be individually controlled, allowing you to create infinitely variable light patterns at the tweak of a slider. This entirely new way of thinking about blinds won awards, raised eyebrows everywhere from radio 4 to it’s Nice That, and earned Kia a nomination for a Dyson fellowship.

Now, KUFtwist forms the basis for a new installation at the Craft Council’s Collect Open, launching at the Saatchi Gallery on 2–6 February 2017. Working with textile artist Fay McCaul, Kia is creating a huge, curving KUFtwist screen with slats woven from an iridescent fabric that changes colour depending on the angle from which you view it, inviting visitors to step up, fiddle with the sliders and create infinite patterns of light and colour on the gallery floor. 

Kia says: ‘We both seek to forge a unique path by creating work that has integral lighting effects and interacts with the viewer. We want the audience to become involved with the piece and the play of light and pattern that will reflect throughout the space.’

Because the screen curls into a semi-circle at one end, gallery visitors can effectively step into the installation, immersing themselves in the kaleidoscopic shapes and shades it creates.

Trust us, you’re going to KUFlove it.