WORDS Gina Dionisio PHOTOS Supplied
South African design as you’ve never seen it before.
For the first time ever, two vanguards of South African creativity — Design Joburg and 100% Design Africa — are coming together from 3 to 6 August 2023 for one must-see showcase of the future of South African design, interiors, architecture, art and culture.
The collocation of the shows grants attendees access to an unparalleled display of product design, furniture, textiles, graphic design, art and fashion from over 60 dynamic brands.
Get a glimpse of what to expect from this year’s shared exhibition:
SA’s Bright Young Stars
There are numerous stand-out young talents who are exhibiting at 100% Design Africa and Design Joburg:
- Thabo Kopele – The South African Fashion Week 2020 Scouting Menswear finalist will display a collection of his latest fashion pieces at the Rising Talent stand.
- Sipho Khwebula Twala of Khwebula Arts – Sipho will showcase the adventurous carpentry that is the hallmark of his artistic furniture pieces.
- Siyabonga Mtshali – The African avant-garde fashion designer will exhibit Siyababa Atelier’s elevated luxury pieces.
Setting the scene for the exhibition as a whole is an exciting entrance feature created in collaboration with a number of brands and curated by Clout/SA. Among the esteemed participants is Kalki Ceramics, the illustrious recipient of the Nando’s Hot Young Designer Talent Search in 2022. Hailing from Durban, the visionary duo behind this bespoke ceramic studio, Nindya Bucktowar and Nikhil Tricam, are set to showcase their triumphant creation, the Cactus server.
Design-Forward Furniture
With a host of brands showing off their take on the latest trends for home and office, you can expect new pieces from top leading local and international exhibitors such as Roche Bobbois, Entrawood, Stripped Collective, Studio Delta, Organic Empire, Sofa Company, LIM, KARE and more.
Light On
Importers of luxury European lighting and furniture CRÉMA will unveil their exciting new Light On design competition.
Students and designers from South Africa are invited to showcase their creativity by submitting an innovative table lamp design for a chance to see their lamp come to life and win R20 000. A panel of esteemed judges, including a member of the Decorex committee, will select one winner from nationwide entries to be manufactured and sold by CRÉMA Design. You’ll be able to find out more about the competition, which will run until 3 November 2023, at the CRÉMA stand.
Interwoven
Visitors can immerse themselves in extraordinary world of South African textiles.
Look out for the Keiskamma Art Project – based in Hamburg, Eastern Cape, they produce major textile artworks in aid of archiving the rural Eastern Cape’s collective memory and the preservation of oral history. There will be a special curated display on show, created in collaboration with Clout/SA.
The Future of Design
Following the Future of Design’s debut at Decorex Cape Town in June 2023, a fresh lineup of speakers and exhibitors will ignite conversation in Joburg. Taking place on an even grander scale, this talks studio and related exhibition space is one of the main features of the combined Design Joburg/100% Design Africa hall.
On Display
The Candice Berman Gallery will present works by leading South African contemporary artists, including Robert Hodgins, Sam Nhlengethwa, Nkosinathi Thomas Ngulube, Zolile Phetshane and John Vusi Mfupi.
The newly opened Johannesburg-based USURPA Gallery, the first fine-art NFT gallery in South Africa, will follow its Decorex Cape Town debut with a stand featuring digital artworks by local artists such as Seth Pimental and Naledi Modupi on futuristic Samsung Frame technology.
Multi-award-winning ceramicists Andile Dyalvane and Zizipho Poswa’s studio Imiso Ceramics will also present hand-crafted, collectible, one-of-a-kind pieces.
The trade-focused Joburg Decor & Design Week kicks off the week on 31 July with a comprehensive city-wide programme of events that culminates in 100% Design Africa, Design Joburg and Decorex Joburg.
The trade-focused Joburg Decor & Design Week takes place across the city from 31 July 2023. The city-wide programme of events culminates in 100% Design Africa, Design Joburg and Decorex Joburg from 3 to 6 August 2023 at the Sandton Convention Centre. For more information and tickets, visit Decorex, 100% Design Africa and Design Joburg.
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