The Art of the Table: Forging a Vision with MONA
KesKaew legacy is built on precision, heritage, and the quiet pursuit of perfection. It is this reputation that led to one of our most exciting and artistically demanding collaborations: producing a signature cutlery set for the restaurant at the renowned Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) in Tasmania, Australia.
MONA is more than a museum; it is a global icon of the avant-garde, a place that challenges convention and celebrates fearless creativity. When they approached us, their request was not for a traditional set of cutlery. They sought functional art—pieces that would embody the museum's provocative and singular identity, ensuring that the dining experience was as conceptually rich and aesthetically bold as the art on the walls.
This was a challenge that resonated deeply with our artisans. It was an opportunity to move beyond classic elegance and into a realm of pure, sculptural design. The creative brief was a dialogue between their audacious vision and our mastery of metalwork. Our workshop, accustomed to the intricate details of royal insignias, became a studio to forge a new language of form. The resulting cutlery set is a testament to this unique synergy: a collection that is both minimalist and complex, balancing ergonomic grace with a striking, unconventional silhouette. Each piece is crafted to be a conversation starter, an object of curiosity that feels as though it were unearthed from MONA’s own collection.
The journey of this bespoke collection took an unexpected and thrilling turn when it was featured in the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s docuseries, Eat the Invaders. Hosted at MONA, the series explored the radical concept of turning invasive species into gourmet cuisine. While our cutlery was not designed with any specific animal in mind, its unique, artistic character made it the perfect choice for the show's "pompous," theatrical feasts. Seeing our work in the hands of chefs and guests in a series dedicated to such a provocative idea was a powerful affirmation of the design's impact.
The MONA commission is a proud chapter in the Keskaew story. It demonstrates our ability to translate a client's powerful vision into objects of lasting beauty and function. From the initial commission for a world-class museum restaurant to its feature in a groundbreaking television series, this cutlery set proves that truly masterful design is versatile and timeless. It is a reminder that from our quiet house in Bangkok, we can create pieces that find their place on the world's most daring tables.