Cool Collaborations: Design

WORDS Malibongwe Tyilo FASHION SHOW PHOTOS SDR Photo

Some of our favourite moments of creativity in recent times have been brought about by collaboration – between brands and individuals. And as we head into the second half of 2015 we have no doubt this trend will grow stronger. Some of our favourite team players told us about their process.

ANDILE DYALVANE AND MASTER CHAN GUO-XIANG

Imiso Ceramics founder Andile Dyalvane recently visited Taipei, the 2016 World Design Capital, for an artist-in-residence programme. While there, he met Master Chan Guo-Xiang, a fellow artist and potter.

How did your collaboration come about?

Andile: Arriving at the studio from the airport, as I was crossing a courtyard with the museum steward, Master Chan Guo-Xiang spotted me and called me over to his demonstration area to show me something he was working on.

Master Chan: Andile is friendly and passionate. He gave me the impression of being an enthusiastic and bright young man. In spite of the language barrier, we became friends.

How did you communicate?

Master Chan: When the professional translator was not around, we simply used body language to communicate, which was fun. Most of all, however, we communicated through artworks. Art may be the most direct and the simplest medium for interaction.

Andile: Sign language, drawings, facial expressions and body language.

What artistic insights did you gain from working with each other?

Master Chan: I found Andile’s technique very special and interesting. The cultural exchange went beyond the technical level and actually reached the aesthetic level. Speaking of cultural exchange, the most special one was the music he played when working. I think it was local South African music, which made me feel very positive and energetic.

Andile: The excitement for me was about exploring size, learning other methods, embracing culture at the side of a humorous master who was equally fascinated by my ideas and techniques. This gave our experience newness. Collaboration requires committed creative dialogue, open-mindedness and a willingness to learn, let go and explore. Collaboration is invention with mutual agreements to respect idea generation. It’s also a great test of character.

ATANG TSHIKARE AND MOSTLIKELY

Atang Tshikare received a Southern Guild Future Found Award for 2014. His artistic creations and line drawings can be seen on couches, sneakers and even on customised bicycles. He recently collaborated on a totem pole with Wolfgang List and Maik Perfahl, founding partners at Austrian architecture and design agency MOSTLIKELY. (Check out Atang’s travel diary here)

How did the collaboration come about?

MostLikely: The collaboration started because we wanted to give the totem pole a local touch, and the best thing to accomplish that is to work with locals. Steven Harris introduced us to Atang and we immediately fell in love with his work. He is a great talent and plays with all kinds of genres.

How do you ensure a spirit of sharing when collaborating?

Atang: I never work with people who use the same medium, so it’s easy to share. Collaboration is like sand in your hands: You can’t hold it all, and you never know what else is in there.

MostLikely: Since we are working as a group, we are trained to share and because we do what we love and are not that concerned about earning a lot of money it’s not that hard to be open.

Why did you decide to use the totem pole for this project?

MostLikely: It is the perfect symbol for community and for sharing.

Are there any future collaborations in the pipeline?

Atang: I’ve heard from another Austrian group called breadedEscalope; I love their unconventional lo-fi technique. We’re currently discussing a project.

MostLikely: Our internal co-operation is friendship-based. Most of the time we work separately, but if we get the opportunity we are ready for more collaboration.