Of all the things I possess, a few have special meaning to me. They’re my keepsakes; objects that win the “What would you save first in a fire?” game. Obviously, my family would be number one; but after they’re safely on the street, I’d dive back in to retrieve a few objects that are heirlooms, a connection to parents since passed, or moments in my life with my own family.
They’re not particularly valuable, but I cherish them. Hand-drawn birthday cards our daughter has made for us; my father’s Swiss-made Roamer watch, given to him by my mom for his 21st; his Parker fountain pen, which I use every day; the 1970s Gibson Hummingbird guitar I bought in the ’90s with all the money I had; a 1972 pressing of Neil Young’s Harvest that belonged to my mom; the original Barbara Hepworth and John Piper prints inherited from my wife’s late father…
It was mulling over the Roamer watch I’d just restored that got me thinking about “Keepsakes” as the perfect series for VISI. If you’re a regular reader, you know VISI isn’t just about showcasing the design talent we have in South Africa, but about providing context to that design. Great design doesn’t just pop into existence; it represents a culmination of a creator’s experience, influences and inspirations. Take our Building an Icon series as an example: reading Grete Van As and Johan Wentzel’s piece on Spanish architect Alberto Campo Baeza on page 80 provides context to the home penned by this duo and featured on page 138.
In that vein, our new Keepsakes series on page 52 will give you insight into what inspires South African designers. Joey Khuvutlu, founder of furniture and homeware brand Daily, kicks it off, sharing objects that have a particular personal meaning to him. Turns out, Joey and I have some in common: a vinyl copy of Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On, and a MoonSwatch…
There is, of course, a ton more to read in this issue. We’ve curated our big features around the theme of neo-Modernist masterpieces – beautiful homes, both here in South Africa and internationally, that showcase how contemporary architects have been inspired by, and have advanced, Modernist design.
As ever, we also showcase local rising stars, including artist Leah Rolando (page 30) and designer Philip Kramer (page 46). I covet both of their work, and that’s me standing next to one of Philip’s lights. We celebrate South African designers’ international success – Tristan du Plessis’s interiors for Louis Vuitton (page 66) and Jacu Strauss’s design of London’s One Hundred Shoreditch hotel (page 62). And Annemarie ends the issue with her international selection of contemporary furniture pieces that pay homage to the Mid-century Modern movement.
– Steve Smith, Editor | [email protected]
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