This March, to complement V&A's China Design Now exhibition, Liberty will exhibit The Real Toy Story, an extraordinary art installation by Michael Wolf that uses 20,000 plastic toys.
Through his photographs Hong Kong based photographer Michael Wolf chronicles the many different faces of China, contrasting the global face of Chinese society with the individuality and humanity of its people.
Over 75% of the world's toys are made in China and The Real Toy Story consists of thousands of plastic toys collected by Wolf, and shown alongside his sensitively observed portraits of the factory workers who have made them. Wolf thought up the idea for the installation in 2003 during a visit to the United States. As a surprise for his son, he bought a sack of second hand toys at the local charity store and distributed them on every available surface in his room. As he examined the toys closer he realised that every one was made in China. It was then the idea came to him to cover an entire wall with toys "made in China" next to portraits of the Chinese toyfactory workers.
In spring 2004, he returned to the United States, rented a van and travelled throughout California, visiting all the second hand shops along the way and hitting the flea markets at the weekends. Each toy had to have a face, and have been "made in China". After 30 days, 2000 miles, and hundreds of shops and flea markets later, Michael Wolf had collected approximately 20,000 toys which were packed and shipped to his studio in Hong Kong. There, he proceeded to sand down the back of each toy creating a flat, rough surface onto which he could secure strong magnets.
The idea was to cover a gallery or museum wall with thin metal sheets and attach the magnetised toys - the magnets allowed Wolf to move the toys around the walls and gave him flexibility in the way he manipulated the installation. Wolf then visited five toy factories in China where he photographed the workers producing the toys. These portraits are embedded in the installation, and add another level of meaning to the project, both as a homage to the individuals who create the majority of the world's plastic toys and as a comment on what this says about China's burgeoning economy and societal changes.
Alongside the installation is a collection of his photos -
Architecture of Density - an exhibition of large scale photographs
depicting high rise tower blocks in Hong Kong.
This is the second edition of the international design biennale, Design
Match, which will be held in countries of middle Europe in year 2008.
After
the successful first edition, the Design Match 2006 CZE:SVK, that was
presented as a part of the Art&Interior fair, there will be four
countries fighting: Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Austria.
The mission of the Design Match is to show design work to wide public, to multiply related activities. Design Match is the only non-commercial show of design that has an ambition of long continuation and to place the Czech design next to its foreign colleagues. This exhibition gathers different countries who have historical connections, traditions and heritage. Creates a place for friendly confrontations and becomes a match. The designer is a player and friends of design are fans. The foundation of the 2008 edition is a production of Austrian-Hungarian Monarchy.
This edition is founded on the tradition of designs of the Austrian-Hungarian Monarchy. The motto of this year’s project is integration of European countries into a shared space. The idea of Design Match connects to the historical similarity with integration of Austria-Hungary. This selection and inspiration by the monarchy is not accidental. When one says Austria-Hungary and design, it associates Thonet. The story of the Thonet Company and family will help us to understand their concept better. The exhibition is prepared with a wide research project in cooperation with the Muzeum of Decorative Arts in Prague and Budapest.
Focus of this exhibition: There will be groups of four items, each one of a different country and a clear parallel leading to an object produced in times of Austria-Hungary.
There will be a Thonet chair number 14, winner of the era, welcoming visitors at the entrance. Surrounded with four current designs of four different countries.
This exhibition will begin in the Fair Palace of the National gallery in Prague on the 13th March 2008 on mezzanin of the Small walkway. The exhibition will then continue in Slovakia, where it will be presented on two places, Austria and Hungary, where it will be presented in the Museum of Decorative Arts as a part of Budapest Design Week, the biggest design event of Hungary. The exhibition will travel all year long.
Project Design Match 2008 will present current designs of 120 designers of the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Austria.
'Fifteen Pieces for a Soundscape - First Movement' is an architectural installation that is the result of geometrical experiments and investigations of 20th century music undertaken by the Städelschule Architectural Class during the last six months.
The resulting investigations have included encounters with work spanning from the experiments and recordings of Glenn Gould, via compositions of the late Karlheinz Stockhausen, to the varied work of Brian Eno.
The exhibition attempts to make sense of the evasive interface between time and space in architecture through the logics of music and matter. It presents a speculative synthesis of the temporal and auditory with the presumed stasis of the architectural object. In this sense, the exhibition continues a tradition that in modern architectural terms revolves around the Philips Pavilion Poème Electronique, by Le Corbusier, Iannis Xenakis, and Edgar Varèse (1958). In comparison, 'Fifteen Pieces for a Soundscape - First Movement' is a modest endeavour, but it explores the same vibrant interface that bears on our senses and to which architecture contributes more than material silence.
The fourteen objects are presented as floating, effervescent singularities within a space conceived as a whole, embracing and silent soundscape. The fourteen pieces are scaled, transformed and completed in the fifteenth piece, the visual backdrop formed by the photographic banners.
Conceived and directed by professors Ben van Berkel, Sanford Kwinter, and Johan Bettum with Luis Etchegorry. The exhibition by the Städelschule Architecture Class takes place in Galerie Wilma Tolksdorf, Frankfurt am Main, from February 8 to April 30, 2008
The Design Museum, in partnership with Tate Modern, brings a house designed by architectural visionary Jean Prouvé to Britain for the first time. The prototype house, designed by the French architect Jean Prouvé (1901-1984), for 1950s colonial West Africa, has been erected outside Tate Modern as an extension of the Design Museum’s current exhibition Jean Prouvé 'The Poetics of the Technical Object'.
Fashion photographer Ben Rayner has taken many pictures of the reconstruction of the modular pre-fabricated house.
Visit the 'Maison Tropicale for the Design Museum' at Tate Modern, London from February 5 to April 13 2008
Exhibition: Jean Prouvé 'The Poetics of the Technical Object' at the Design Museum, London from December 7 2007 to April 13 2008
'Helsinki Lighthouse' - designed by Timo Salli for Saas Instruments, 2006
Design Forum Finland presents a fresh selection of Finnish design lamps and light fittings. The exhibition space provides living room of light, an experience of interior atmosphere created by different types of lamps and sources of light. The showing particularly emphasizes sources of light making use of state-of-the-art technology and the latest materials.
Lighting is of prime importance in conditions of limited daylight. Lamps and light fittings are also important elements of interior design, creating solutions of atmosphere or enhancing the functionality and safety of space. The degree and type of lighting can easily be adapted to personal needs. This is best done by using several lamps of different type in a space. Ecologically minded consumers will choose light sources that can reduce energy consumption.
'Overpass' - designed by Anu Penttinen for Nounou Design, 2007
'Innosol Origo' designed by Eero Aarnio for Innojok Oy, 2007
'Double Bubble' designed by Eero Aarnio for Melaja Oy, 2003
'Atto' designed by Seppo Koho for Secto Design Oy, 2007
'340Y' designed by Yrjö Kukkapuro and Henrik Enbom for Saas Instruments, 2007
'Tre' designed by Elina Järvinen for Selki-asema, 2007
'In This Light' exhibition at Design Forum Finland opens up a theme that is important to Finns and will be addressed later also from an international perspective. The following companies, among others, are participating in the showing: Doctor Design, Innojok, Korpihete Lighting Design, Melaja Oy, Nounou Design, Saas Instruments, Secto Design and Selki-asema. The featured designers are Eero Aarnio, Elina Järvinen, Seppo Koho, Jukka Korpihete, Yrjö Kukkapuro & Henrik Enbom, Mikko Laakkonen, Carola Lindh-Hormia, Mikko Paakkanen, Anu Penttinen, Heikki Ruoho, Timo Salli, Petri Vainio and Jari-Petri Voutilainen.
The exhibition will include a lecture and discussion on LED lighting design, which has been studied by Sami Suihkonen, preparing his doctorate in technology in the subject.
Exhibition: In this Light – New Finnish lamp design 25 January –17 February 2008 Design Forum Finland (Space1) Erottajankatu 7, Helsinki - Finland Free entrance
French designers from Normalstudio are presenting their products at Salon Now!
'Paysages' - Ligne Roset - 2008 Issued from a research initiated by the CRAFT (Limoges), "Paysages" is a dinnerware set of 7 pieces. This collection is developed and distributed by Ligne Roset and Revol porcelaine.
Adaptor/Lamp in Corian - Forum Diffusion, Paris - 2004 It is a block that you can place on a table, the wire is rolled around its base. One can place a Corian socket as one wishes.
Maison & Objet (Now! Design à Vivre) Paris-Nord Villepinte January 25 - 29 2008
The Kaj Franck Design Prize 2007 has been awarded to ceramic artist Kati Tuominen-Niittylä (born 1947).
The recipient of the Kaj Franck Design Prize was announced on December 13 2007 at Design Forum in Helsinki. Kati Tuominen-Niittylä began working at the Arabia factory in 1980. Her minimalist and timeless language of form appears in numerous serially manufactured products and one-off works. One of Arabia’s most recent success stories is the KoKo series of products, a result of Tuominen-Niittylä's and Kristina Riska’s creative cooperation. Prior to the Kaj Franck Design Prize of 2007 Kati Tuominen-Niittylä has received the Grand Prix, Honourable Mention and the Gold Medal in the Mino Ceramics Competition in Japan. She is a charter member of the Arabia Art Department Society (established in November 2003). The main idea of the new society is to maintain and continue the cultural heritage of the Art Department, which was originally established in 1932.
The Kaj Franck Design Prize has become a distinction highly valued by design professionals, the media and the general public. It is awarded according to the decision of a special prize jury. The jury noted that during her long time career Kati Tuominen-Niittylä has created versatile ceramic art and design involving interplay, from unique archaic art objects to playful modern serial products such as the KoKo series.
Prototypes, 1984
Storybirds, 1993 Oy Arabia Ab
Gluck pitchers, 1993 Oy Iittala Ab
Koko tableware service, 2005 Oy Iittala Ab (with Kristina Riska)
Pot from the series Iron Age, 2004
Pot from the series Iron Age, 2004
Kaj Franck Prize was established in 1992 to honour the legacy of Finnish designer Kaj Franck (1911–89). He was, in his capacity as a designer and artistic director in industry (Arabia and the Nuutajärven glassworks) and as a teacher at the University of Art and Design, Helsinki. Franck was the "conscience of Finnish design". Functionality and compatibility were the underlying concepts of his streamlined utility articles. His best-known designs are Teema dishes (Arabia) and Kartio glassware (Iittala), which have become classics of modern design. His several awards included a Gold Medal (1951), the Diplome d'honneur (1954) and the Grand Prix (1957) at the Milan Triennials, and he also received the Compasso d'Oro (1957), the Lunning Award and the Finnish State Design Prize, among other distinctions.
Exhibition: The Kaj Franck Design Prize 2007 – Kati Tuominen-Niittylä from December 14 2007 to January 14 2008 Design Forum Finland, Space1 Erottajankatu 7, Helsinki, Finland
Utrecht Manifest is an international cultural biennial, which perceives contemporary developments in design and architecture from a social perspective. The biennial shows how architecture and design, in the past and present, have looked for answers to social and cultural questions connected to innovation, quality and sustainability.
The biennial searches for connections between design, architecture and other cultural expressions such as film, theatre and literature, in order to stimulate the public and political debate. The aim is to reinforce the role of design and architecture in developing coherent agendas for social and cultural innovation.
The biennale presents a wide array of exhibitions, debates, symposium, workshops and a satellite program.
Lovely Language (exhibition) In the 1920s, the Austrian sociologist Otto Neurath (1882–1945) developed an international visual language, for which the German-Dutch graphic artist Gerd Arntz (1900–1988) designed more than 4,000 pictograms. Neurath’s motto – ‘words divide, images unite’ – is the point of departure for the Lovely Language exhibition. Many of the duo’s designs were the forebears of pictograms we now encounter everywhere, such as the man and woman on toilet doors.
A Safe Place - Pictograms for Disaster Areas (exhibition) Television, radio, newspapers and the Internet treat disasters as happenings. Clear communication between the local population, any foreign tourists and the international aid workers is critical for every kind of disaster. Gert Dumbar, the renowned graphic designer, devised a sketch proposal of universal pictograms for humanitarian relief organizations together with his son Derk. These important designs are being presented for the first time in this exhibition.
Instant Ease (exhibition) A project about changing consumption patterns. Consumers are bombarded with marketing strategies for healthy, environmentally conscious and animal-friendly products. Is this indicative of social responsibility or of an astute pursuit of profit? The artists Tijmen Hauer (video), Ronald Nijhof (installations) and the duo Pacôme Beru & Samir Rougas (installations/multimedia) react to this development with new works.
The Triennale Design Museum, the first museum dedicated to design in Italy, has opened inside La Triennale di Milano on December 6, 2007. The new Museum establishes a permanent exhibition space for design in the heart of a city marked by a rich design heritage.
The architectural design for the restoration of the building and the conversion of the Museum was done by Michele De Lucchi. The innovative architectural feature of the Triennale Design Museum is the creation of its own entrance, via a bridge over the grand staircase, so that the Museum exists both inside the Triennale and as an independent body, visible as such.
The Museum will be directed by Silvana Annicchiarico, who has been the Curator of the Permanent Collection of Italian Design of La Triennale di Milano for nine years. The scientific director of the Design Museum is Andrea Branzi.
The Museum is opening with “The Obsessions of Italian Design” — 100 Italian design objects set against films by British artist and filmmaker Peter Greenaway and 6 Italian filmmakers — conceived and designed by Peter Greenaway and Italian architect Italo Rota.
Isetta Ermenegildo Preti, Iso 1953
Martingala Marco Zanuso, Arflex 1954
Poltrona Seggiovia Franco Albini 1940
Parentesi Achille Castiglioni, Pio Manzù Flos 1971
'Fragiles' is a showcase and sales exhibition of more than 200 design objects created from porcelain, glass and ceramics.
Tjep. Shock Proof Collection: Ikea Small Black Vase
'Fragiles' is an eclectic collection of contemporary porcelain, ceramic and glass objects by a new wave of designers who are manifesting their creative visions out of fragile materials. The exhibition presents innovative objects that expand and challenge our notion of these classical materials and traditions, simultaneously exploring a new aesthetic approach and technological boundaries. From experimental and avant-garde to evocative retro-inspired reinterpretations, these cutting-edge examples indicate how visual culture and high tech production processes are influencing and reshaping this delicate territory in pioneering ways. The exhibition is curated and produced by Die Gestalten Verlag.
DGV asked Belgian designer Arne Quinze to create a series of glass objects exclusively for 'Fragiles'. Quinze chose Bavarian Kristallglasmanufaktur Theresienthal to produce them.
The following is a selection of the collection of work that is presented during Design Miami.
Jason Miller Superordinate Antler Chandelier
Malin Lundmark Teacup lamp
Jerszy Seymour Ken Kuts
Maxim Velcovsky Little Joseph
Exhibition from December 6 - 9th 2007 Marcy Building / 3852 N. Miami Avenue / Miami, Fl. 33137
