22 System and India Mahdavi Present: “Smiley” at Le Petit Voyeur
22 System is pleased to present the Copenhagen debut of Smiley, its joyful collaboration with celebrated Paris-based architect and designer India Mahdavi. Following a vibrant unveiling in Paris, Smiley now makes its way to Denmark for a special second showing during 3daysofdesign—this time nestled inside the welcoming setting of independent art and design bookshop, Le Petit Voyeur.
At the heart of the installation is a radiant, one-of-a-kind reinterpretation of Mahdavi’s Oliver armchair. Transformed into a whimsical, multi-socket sculpture adorned with fluorescent beauty spots, the chair anchors the space—bringing together furniture, function, and fantasy in a single, tactile expression of joy.
“I like the idea that something so ordinary can be a source of joy,” said India Mahdavi. “Smiley is about transforming the functional into something uplifting—bringing levity and colour into our everyday rituals.”
The decision to present this second chapter of Smiley inside Le Petit Voyeur is both deliberate and poetic. As a bookshop devoted to rare editions and thoughtful curation, Le Petit Voyeur is a space where ideas are not only housed but deeply felt—where design, literature, and lived experience intersect with quiet intensity.
In this context, Smiley’s luminous energy finds a striking counterpoint. The installation interrupts the literary calm with a moment of levity, punctuating the book-lined interior with a wink of fluorescent yellow. It’s a gesture that underscores the project’s ethos: that joy can live in the smallest of details, and that even utilitarian objects have the potential to spark wonder.
Omer Arbel, co-founder of Bocci and creator of 22 System, noted: “Bringing Smiley to Copenhagen within the thoughtful context of a bookshop highlights how design can subtly—and powerfully—shift the atmosphere of a space. This collaboration with India continues to affirm that the smallest details often carry the greatest emotional weight.”
For 3daysofdesign, 22 System will host a special cocktail hour on June 19th from 4-7pm where pink champagne will be served in homage to Mahdavi’s custom Oliver chair, with Smiley keyrings, t-shirts, and totes that echo its spirit of delight and disruption.
Smiley will be available soon at 22System.com, offering designers, architects, and aesthetes alike a way to inject personality into even the most functional corners of a room.
