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South Africa shines at London Design Festival -
South Africa shines at London Design Festival -
South Africa shines at London Design Festival -
South Africa shines at London Design Festival -
South Africa shines at London Design Festival -
South Africa shines at London Design Festival -
South Africa shines at London Design Festival -
South Africa shines at London Design Festival -
South Africa shines at London Design Festival -
South Africa shines at London Design Festival -
South Africa shines at London Design Festival -
South Africa shines at London Design Festival
Two South African design exhibitions are taking pride of place at the London Design Festival this week until Sunday 22 September 2013 – Graphic Africa at Habitat and Framework at 100% Design.
Hosted at Habitat’s Platform space on King’s Road, the Graphic Africa exhibition features the work of 16 designers from 10 African countries and runs well beyond the London Design Festival, until Sunday 20 October.
Entailing over 20 pieces of new furniture, and a capsule collection of ceramics, glassware and lighting, Graphic Africa was curated by Trevyn and Julian McGowan of Source. The exhibition includes modern furniture and lighting by Johannesburg’s Dokter and Misses, hand-strung iconic furniture from Mali’s Cheick Diallo, crafted metal furniture by Burkina Faso’s Hamed Ouattara, artistic ceramics by Cape Town’s Imiso Ceramics and graphic textiles by Mali’s Boubacar Doumbia.
Much of the work is the result of the Design Network Africa project, including the debut of Heath Nash’s new glassware developed in Kenya and featured in the SPRINGLOADED VISI 68. Boubacar is also working with Rebecca Hoyes, Habitat’s senior designer, to produce a collection of cushions, throws and home textiles based on “mud cloth” techniques.
In turn running from Wednesday 18 to Saturday 21 September, 100% Design is the massive expo that happens annually at Earl’s Court Exhibition Centre. This year’s South African pavilion is called Framework and features the contemporary furniture design of over 13 local designers.
From Vogel and Pierre Cronje’s traditional-with-a-twist to the modernist edge of Joe Paine and Indigi Designs, and the zippy cork of Snapp and Wiid, not to mention the ever-popular Willowlamp and distinguished Tonic, we’re proud to confirm that there is most definitely a distinctive, sophisticated aesthetic emerging in South African furniture.
As an aside, we couldn’t help but notice that the 100% Design marketing campaign is most certainly inspired by Li Edelkoort’s totem trend, which she announced at Design Indaba earlier this year.
South Africa might be at the tip of the Earth, but good ideas float to the top!
