With spring in the air, it’s time to get inspired – and what better way to do so than by getting lost in the pages of one of these beautiful architecture, design, interiors, cookery and craft books?

ARCHITIZER: THE WORLD’S BEST ARCHITECTURE 2020 Edited by Phaidon

Founded in 2009, the Architizer website showcases remarkable built-environment projects from around the world, and celebrates them via its annual A+Awards, which honour each year’s extraordinary architecture.

The winners are chosen by more than 400 international luminaries in fields such as publishing, product design and technology, and are also voted for by the public. The awards are then celebrated in a fully illustrated book – and this is the resulting compendium for 2020, which includes projects ranging from a huge airport to tiny weekend homes.

Phaidon | R1325

Buy Now

DESIGN SECRETS By Kit Kemp

suggests ways to celebrate raw materials and curate collections that will add something unique to your space. Packed with practical tips on subjects such as “How to use art to tell a story” and “How to dress shelves”, Design Secrets is one of those books that does what it says on the cover. It’s a masterclass in interiors from someone at the top of her game.

Abrams | R555

Buy Now

A CAPE TABLE By Vergelegen

Well-known for the beauty of its Somerset West setting as well as its exceptional cuisine, Vergelegen is very much the star of this book of gorgeous photographs and food. Featuring recipes by chefs Michael Bridgeman and Roger Hindley (who head up the Stables family restaurant and produce the estate’s elegant summer picnic fare), and Michael Cooke (executive chef of the award-winning Camphors signature restaurant), this one will delight all fans of the estate.

Quivertree Publications | R450

Buy Now

KAFFE FASSETT IN THE STUDIO By Kaffe Fassett

Craft design legend Kaffe Fassett is as much a master of colour as he is brilliant at needlework, quilting and knitting, and this beautifully photographed book is a window into his pattern-packed world. It features new quilting and knitting patterns and needlepoint projects, as well as a never previously seen behind-the-scenes look at Fassett’s private home in London. Pure inspiration for the crafter in your life, Kaffe Fassett In The Studio will make a wonderful gift.

Abrams | R669

Buy Now

ZANZIBAR By Aline Coquelle

Consisting of a cluster of Indian Ocean islands that have long been a place where cultures converge, collide and cross-pollinate, Zanzibar is a showcase of Omani architecture, Portuguese and British heritage, and Swahili tradition. The unique spirit of this special place has been captured in this colourful book of original photographs and text by Parisian photographer Aline Coquelle.

Rizzoli | R1400

Buy Now

PATENTED: 1,000 DESIGN PATENTS By Thomas Rinaldi

A remarkable collection of creativity, Patented is an essential reference guide to a century of design. Including original patent documents throughout, it features everything from everyday objects to instantly recognisable designer pieces, and celebrates the creative genius of inventors, innovators and dreamers around the world. Both a great reference book and fun to browse, it includes patents by many famous names alongside designs for tape dispensers, food processors, drink bottles and more.

Phaidon | R885

Buy Now

Looking for more books? Here are our favourite new coffee table books.

The post BOOKS: Print Perfect appeared first on Visi.

Local potter and creative Bianca Bernstein talks to VISI about working with a wheel, her journey with clay, tips and tricks for beginner potters and life in her studio.

Tell us a bit about your background?

Born in the ’80s. Grew up in the ’90s (and still recovering from that). I’m a mostly self-taught potter, working primarily on the wheel to make small-batch and one-off craft pots, as well as large production orders for restaurants from time to time. 

I live and make pots in the Southern Suburbs of Cape Town, with my long-suffering pottery husband, our Great Dane, and 3 cats. When I’m not making pots, I’m reading or trying to figure out ways to include pasta in every meal. My favourite colour is brown. 

How did you get involved in pottery?

I’d been working as an advertising copywriter for about 14 years, and I was tired of trying to create things with small budgets, unreasonable deadlines, and tons of brand baggage attached. I needed to go somewhere where I could make mistakes freely and with no consequence, and perhaps see those mistakes develop into something rewarding. An amazing illustrator I know was posting these great little clay creatures that she’d been making at a local studio, so I asked her for the studio’s details. I got in touch with the studio and went to my first lesson. I sat with a lump of clay, trying to pinch a pot, thinking “This really isn’t doing it for me”, until some moments later, I spied a pottery wheel in the far corner. Not a single person was sitting there, and that’s where I wanted to go. I bundled some balls of clay together and started learning how to centre them. The first pots I threw looked like blobs, and I later glazed them accordingly in a fabulous 1970’s brown (origin unknown). I cried a bit in the car on the way home from that first class. I knew that something had changed for me. Cut to a month later – I’d stashed a second-hand wheel in my poorly-lit basement and was obsessively throwing pots every night and every weekend. Cut to 2021 – I’m having a gas kiln installed to start a reduction-firing journey and all of my nice clothes have been ruined (blessed) by clay.

What are your favourite things about working with clay?

Other than the fact that clay just feels like home to me, it also has a way of teaching me to live with uncertainty and acceptance. So much can go wrong before a pot is out of the kiln and in use, that I always feel a low-key acceptance that it might not make it. And plenty of the pots don’t. You learn to accept failures in clay with more ease than you would other things in life and start seeing these failures as lessons and opportunities. 

What does a day in the studio look like for you?

I have a terrible habit of visiting the studio as soon as I wake up (quite early), and so I end up doing things in my pajamas before I snap out of it and go get properly dressed for the tasks ahead. I’ll start the day by ‘visiting’ the pots that are in their various stages of making, and see which pot needs what from me that day. Some will need to be turned (trimmed), and others moved along to a different part of the studio for drying etc. I then consult my work list, which tells me whether or not I have commissions to throw that day, or whether I can focus on making pots that I choose to make. On a very lucky day, I’ll get to do a few wild experiments. I’ll take breaks and walk around in the garden during the day, thinking about my pots and how I’m tackling them. If it’s raining I’ll take tea breaks on the stoep for morale. What’s important to note is that not all days look the same. In fact, very few do. This is because working on the wheel is just a small part of the efforts that go into making pots. There’s so much peripheral work, like recycling clay, putting up extra shelves, or sanding down kiln props, or creating new glazes, or caring for students’ work so that it’s ready for their next lesson. I’ve been working on having more disciplined ‘making cycles’, where my output is wheel-focused, and then allotting other times for supporting tasks and prepping for students and studio upkeep etc. 

Where do you look for inspiration?

This is an ever-changing search and can be very rewarding. 

I tend to look to a few things for inspiration. 

1. The materials in my studio: what have I got on hand and what can I do with it? What am I lacking and what can I replace it with? 

2. Materials in general: I read up a lot about the different materials used in making clay bodies and glazes and how they behave in heat environments. This technical reading can absolutely inform ideas or directions, and it’s very exciting when it happens. 

3. Practical influences: there are potters out there who do certain things very well – and that drives me to improve my level of craft. For example, when I see a brilliant potter’s hands deftly pulling and attaching a handle with a certain level of confidence, it reminds me that I have a long way to go to get there, and it actually really gets me going. Some potters that influence my practical decisions are Lisa Hammond, the late Michael Cardew, and South African potter Richard Pullen. 

4. Philosophical influences: This is a much more emotional space for me because being a potter is not a career choice – it’s a life choice. When you choose to give your life over to making pots, you have to go all-in if you hope to make anything of significance. For a greater understanding of what this means (because this understanding is ever-growing), I look to the late Karen Karnes, the late Shoji Hamada, and American potter Adam Field. Their personal philosophies of what life in pots means and can be are evident in the way they lived and live. There’s no separation of work and home. The work is home. The work is never finished. And that brings me great comfort and renewed energy when I need it. 

How do you keep things fresh with so many potters around?

I do believe that there is a collective consciousness when it comes to creativity. And this can lead to trends in pottery, which can influence potters to make pots that look like a lot of other pots out there. You see similar behaviours in decor and fashion and food. What helps me to stay on my own path is not to look around too much and to trust in my own ideas. This doesn’t mean to say I don’t interrogate certain ideas I come up with quite harshly – some things stay hidden in the notebooks. haha. The thing is, no two potters are alike, for a million reasons – ideals, response to colour, processing information, daily environments, persistence levels etc. – and that’s something I like to spend time thinking about. 

Do you have a preferred method of creating?

My only preferred method of creating is to create. To work. I have found that buckling down to do mundane studio tasks can sometimes spark an idea or two. 

Any local creators to keep on our radar?

There are some really excellent working potters in South Africa. Ckho Mququ and Alila Hofmeyr are definitely two potters to watch – each with a truly unique style and approach to making functional, well-crafted pots. I am often impressed by Ckho’s precision and unique ideas (especially when it comes to surface decoration) and am equally impressed with Alila’s abilities. She’s moving successfully into creating beautiful porcelain lighting works and fixtures – which is no easy task! 

Any tips and tricks for beginners?

The only tip I really have is: be persistent. Be persistent in finding a relationship with clay. Be persistent in asking questions. Ask a lot of questions. Oh, and keep a notebook. ALWAYS KEEP A NOTEBOOK! You’ll find that the more you know about pots, the less you know. And there’s just too much information to rely purely on memory for. 

Tell us about your classes?

I teach beginners’ wheel-throwing classes at my studio in Wynberg, Cape Town on Fridays and Saturdays. The studio is small, so I get to give a lot of attention to each student, which I really like. Teaching is a humbling experience, especially when I realise that I’m passing something on that was passed on to me. It feels like the world’s greatest heirloom. 

Follow Mudlife Pottery on Instagram or visit the website, here.

Looking for more on art? Take a look at the work of Stephané Conradie.

The post Q&A With Mudlife Pottery appeared first on Visi.

An extensive panel of judges for the 2021 Innibos National Craft Awards has been announced, ensuring excellence in rewarding innovation and skill.

Each judge brings their own area of expertise to the selection process.

The judges for 2021 include:

Thabisa Mjo,the owner and founder of Mash.T Design Studio.

Amos Letsoalo, the head curator of the Polokwane Art Museum.

Maureen Waldeck, the brand manager of Tourvest Destination Retail’s stores and retail brands.

Malibongwe Tyilo, a journalist, multimedia content producer, content strategist and editor.

Annemarie Meintjes, the editor at large of VISI magazine.

Over 150 entries have already been received for the 2021 Innibos National Craft Awards.

Crafters have until midnight on Friday, August 13, 2021, to enter.

You need simply take a photo of your entry – next to a matchbox for size and scale, and either email it to crafts@innibos.co.za or send it to 071 621 3597 via MMS or WhatsApp. There is no entry fee.

For more information, please WhatsApp Jan Bhuda on 071 621 3597 or email John-Anthony Boerma at artaid@lantic.net.

To keep up to date with the Innibos National Craft Awards, like them on Facebook and Instagram.

Looking for more on art or design? Read about the new Roger Ballen Centre for Photographic Art.

The post 2021 Innibos National Craft Awards appeared first on Visi.

Local online store Monstera focuses on slow production and carefully crafted homeware and accessories.

Self-identifying as a “platform for makers, a merchant of goods”, Monstera Goods tries to stay away from the speedy nature associated with mass produced wares, instead choosing to step back to the thoughtful craft behind the creation of artisanal goods.

“We act as purveyors of carefully curated, commissioned, and found lifestyle wares that adhere to our ethos of simplicity, sustainability and slow living,” explains the Monstera team. “Our products are minimal, classic and well-made. We focus on things that last.”

From reusable grocery bags and baskets to glass dispensers and side tables, Monstera Goods is stocked with a variety of goods for the discerning homeowner.

Visit monsteragoods.com to explore its online store.

The post Local Online Store: Monstera appeared first on Visi.

Under the brand Dukada Artisan Crafts, Bright Dimba, one of this year’s multitalented Design Indaba Emerging Creatives, creates homeware and interior pieces that celebrate traditional craft.

One of these designs is the Dukada side table, which also doubles as a stool. “The product is a twist on the conventional African decorative items found in the market places across South Africa, with bold functionality being the driving component in our design process,” he explains.

The Dukada is made in Ladysmith in KwaZulu-Natal, created in collaboration with local craftswomen as a form of upliftment and community building. For Bright, culture and tradition are integral sources of reference.

“What makes a great artist or designer is peace, patience and love for the process and the outcome of your creative work, allowing the knowledge of the past to motivate the present for positive future creations,” says Bright. “As an artist/designer it is very important to be open-minded and consistent in your creative evolution.”

Follow @dukada_artisancrafts on Instagram.

The post Design Indaba Emerging Creative: Bright Dimba appeared first on Visi.

Local textile brand Mungo recently attended NY NOW, a home, lifestyle and gift trade show held annually in the Big Apple, along with other local brands Skinny laMinx, Matter of Fakt Jewellery and Evolution Product. Lilah Byrne from Mungo shared some of her favourite finds from the show…

“Every year, the Javits Centre in New York City fills with more than 2 000 incredible designers and makers from across the globe for the annual NY NOW winter market. Since I started working at Mungo three years ago, I’ve really seen what it takes to push the boundaries of sustainable and transparent production in South Africa. It was inspiring to meet other like-minded makers that have focused on creating with integrity and designing for change. Here are some of the extraordinary products that stood out for me this year.”

1. Anchal Project

Sisters Maggie and Colleen Clines from Kentucky design contemporary homeware and apparel made from organic cotton using traditional quilting techniques. I loved their founding story: The team managed to raise $400 by selling handmade notebooks and cards, which enabled the purchase of a sewing machine and materials to begin funding a group of previously exploited women in India to produce a small range of quilts. Over the next few years, Anchal officially received non-profit status in the United States and has now partnered with an Indian NGO. Today the artisan programme provides alternative careers in textile design and production to marginalised women in India. Anchal also works with female sex workers who are seeking a way out of the trade.

(ASIDE: After the show, I made the requisite art history-major pilgrimage to the Guggenheim where I spotted a custom range of Anchal quilts and kimono jackets in the gift shop. The collection, entitled “Spiral and Radial”, is inspired by the modernist works of 20th century pioneering mystic and abstract artist Hilma af Klint.)

2. Takenaka Bento Box 

Established in 1925, Takenaka makes the most beautiful traditional Japanese-style lunch boxes in every colour imaginable! In the fight against single-use plastic, these are certainly the most stylish tools I’ve come across.

3. Caribbean Craft

Award-winning social entrepreneur Magalie Noel Dresse and her husband Joel had the booth across the way from ours brimming with intriguing papier mâché sculptures. Caribbean Craft provides a livelihood to a community of more than 400 Haitian artisans and promotes the beauty of Haiti through artworks that capture the symbols, colours, wildlife and folklore of the place. The papier mâché toy boxes were a big hit with Mungo Director’s three-year-old daughter – definitely her favourite product at the show!

4. Intiearth

Intiearch is an online homeware shop dedicated to preserving Peruvian textile culture and heritage. I particularly liked the Frazadas, which translates to “blanket” in Spanish. Dating back to pre-Columbian times, Frazadas have traditionally been used to protect against high-altitude chills. Each one is still individually woven on handlooms in the rural communities high up in the Andes using age-old weaving techniques.

5. Middle Kingdom

Inspired by traditional Chinese porcelain craftsmanship, Middle Kingdom produces a contemporary collection of ceramic vases and homeware. The company was founded in 1998 by Alison Alten and Bo Jia. What really stood out was their innovative use of form and colour and how their stand drew attention to the products’ silhouetted shapes.

6. Modern Sprout

Modern Sprout brings hydroponic hope to indoor serial plant killers like me! I also loved this company’s story: It was founded by a Chicago-based couple Nick Behr and Sarah Burrows who were seeking a solution to growing indoor herbs (the flavour-filled cooking kind) easily in their garden-less apartment. After a successful Kickstarter campaign, Modern Sprout was born.

7. Nomad Tribe  

Nomad Tribe is a conscious clothing label that is dedicated to sustainable fabrics and upcycling garments. Its stand featured a range of shirts made from 100% recycled organic cotton from Guatemala. Nomad Tribe has also put together a really comprehensive guide to building a sustainable wardrobe on its website.

8. Pick One 

Mungo was in good company in the Artisan Resource hall alongside Edinburgh-based textile designer and weaver James Donald of Pick One. He uses Scottish lambs wool, Shetland wool and other local fibres to hand weave a range of scarves, bags and other accessories at his studio workshop. His customers include Hollywood A-list celebrities and British ’80s Electro royalty. On weekends and in the evenings, James hosts weaving workshops and is currently developing an Open Access Studio for all interested weavers.

9. Savanna Baskets

Savanna Baskets is a social enterprise that works directly with rural women in cooperatives in Ghana with the aim of preserving rich artisanal traditions and creating a long-term, sustainable income stream for these women. The baskets are made from a tropical grass, which grows locally in swampy areas and valleys and is dried into straw for weaving.

10. Twenty Two West

Artist and designer Mary Hamby has a studio in Charlotte, North Carolina, where she makes delicately detailed, fibre-based jewellery and sculptures. From miniature hand-woven pendants to heirloom block sculptures made from hand-spun, naturally dyed yarns, to the pair of asymmetrical clay and felt earrings that I brought home with me, I was in love with it all!

Check out Mungo’s latest releases, the Folly Beach Towel and the Vadoek Cloth, and shop the collections online here. 

The post Highlights from NY NOW 2019 appeared first on Visi.

Based in The Netherlands, Teddy and Wool is a contemporary fibre art studio headed up by Rianne Zuijderduin.

While studying at Minerva Art Academy, Rianne would make small macramé pieces on the side. Now, she’s turned her passion into a successful business, creating expertly crafted pieces, from large wall hangings to plant hangers.

Pieces range from colourful geometric tapestries made using 100% cotton braided cord to simple hangings made with natural cotton cord.

Teddy and Wool’s designs are available to purchase via Etsy or through the brand’s website, with free shipping worldwide.

For more information, visit teddyandwool.com or follow Teddy and Wool on Instagram.

The post Fibre Art by Teddy and Wool appeared first on Visi.

The first-ever African edition of the international moving-image festival Ciclope was held in Cape Town at the glorious Zeitz MOCAA.

Ciclope festival and awards ceremony is hosted annually in Berlin, Germany, as a way to recognise and reward exceptional craft in moving image.

Now in its eighth year, it’s been held in major cities including New York, Los Angeles, Sao Paulo, Sydney and now Cape Town, and serves as a platform for directors, creatives, artists, producers and brands to celebrate exceptional work, share knowledge and be inspired.

The African festival, which received over 150 submissions across 16 categories, was hosted at the Zeitz MOCAA on 10 April 2018. Eighteen winners were awarded: 12 in the Branded Content category, which included sub-categories like Animation, Casting, and Cinematography; five winners in the Special Categories, which included Low Budget, Long Form and Music Video; and the Grand Prix winner, Beats by Dre, which was directed by Terence Neale, produced by Park Pictures and created by agency JohnXHannes New York.

Video credit: Beats by Dre on YouTube

The local jury was comprised of the likes of Fran Luckin, Chief Creative Officer of Grey Africa, Alistair King, founding partner and Chief Creative Officer of King James, and Mbithi Masya, Director at Fat Rain Films – all who spoke at the festival – amongst others.

Production Company of the Year was awarded to 03:07, who were also the production company behind the “On the Road” Volkswagen advert that won for Direction (90 seconds and over) recognising industry stalwart – and festival speaker – Kim Engelbrecht, known for his highly emotive ads.

Video credit: 0307 on Vimeo

“Jury members were impressed by the quality of work submitted across the continent; submissions which showcased not only innovative and creative execution – but importantly – technical expertise,” says Ciclope Director Francisco Condorelli. “This year’s entries have set a high benchmark for future regional legs, and we are encouraged by the success of the inaugural African edition of Ciclope, as well as the support received from the local industry.”

The winners in each category, as well as the Grand Prix winner, will receive an automatic entry to the flagship festival, which will be hosted in Berlin later this year. Read more and get a full list of the winners, here.

The post First African Edition of Ciclope appeared first on Visi.

The NEXT18 Trade Exhibition, taking place at the Homecoming Centre, 15 A Buitenkant Street in Cape Town from 22 – 25 February, will showcase the work of 33 South African designers and manufacturers across various disciplines.

The exhibition, which will include products such as home textiles, furniture, fashion, lighting and decor, is aimed at connecting established local exporters and local design talent eager to make an impression on the global market.

All of the pieces on offer will be available at wholesale prices, as the exhibition aims to introduce the designers and manufacturers to international import buyers.

Designers include Nkuli Mlangeni (The Ninevites), Meyer von Wielligh, African Jacquard, Potters Workshop, Sugar & Vice, Mungo, minima, Skinny laMinx, Heartfelt, Barrydale Hand Weavers, De Steyl, Zizamele Ceramics, Design Afrika, Master Wire and Bead Craft, Vogel, Wren Design and Indigi.

NEXT18 forms part of the Development by Design project, an initiative headed up by SEDA (Small Enterprise Development Agency), the Dutch Centre for the Promotion of Imports from Developing Countries (CBI) and the Craft and Design Institute (CDI), which facilitates the growth of small and medium businesses in South Africa.

For more information, visit thecdi.org.za.

The post 33 Local Designers To Exhibit at NEXT18 appeared first on Visi.

This video, directed by Veena Rao as part of the New York Times Op-Docs series, follows the work and life of Turkey-based miniaturist artist Ali Alamedy, who creates tiny historical dioramas by hand.

“Through my work, I hope to take people back in time, even briefly, to a different time and place,” he says.

Inspired by scenes from books he read growing up, Ali recreates old bookshops, cafés and avenues. His most recent and biggest project yet, a photographic studio (below), took him nine months to work on. Ali wanted to make sure every detail was historically accurate – the research alone for the creation of this miniature took him two months.

After being forced out of Iraq, Ali has not yet made a miniature depicting the country of his birth, but hopes to one day be able to create something that brings him, and his viewers, a sense of joy.

The post WATCH: The Miniaturist appeared first on Visi.