What is the mark of a great exhibition?
For me – it’s whenever I experience a mix of feeling calm, content and happy as a result of being immersed in their environment. The emotions tend to slowly creep up on me as I walk through an exhibition space, and if they do, I know it was worth the visit. It might be a similar feel to when out in nature, feeling connected in some way to my environment. It is then all the more impressive when a designer/curator is able to evoke this in an indoor space then.
This is exactly what happened as I made my way through the London Design Biennale on Friday last week, and I want to share with you the designs that particularly had my brain spark:
Poland
Records of Waiting: On Time and Ornament
This is a space full of 3D patterns designed to evoke a sense of time. What I liked about this exhibition was the feeling of depth that the patterns generated by the fact that they were three dimensional instead of “flat” in combination with the beautiful timber that had been chosen to showcase them.
Japan
Paper Clouds: Materiality in Empty Space
A project inspired by Suyari-Gasumi, an old Japanese technique where empty space is considered to have its own materiality. I was drawn to the celebration of paper and how something which is so ordinary was made into something very special by adding texture and organising it in a beautiful space.
Malta
URNA
A new way of memorialising exists. I liked the sense of serenity and spirituality this simple yet beautiful object evoked. It created a sense of peace rather than sadness.
Northumbria University & UCL
Living Assembly: Building with Biology
Structures and objects built with science. What made me appreciate this space was the obvious sustainability factor by harnessing the power of biology. I also appreciated the sculptural objects and interesting textures and patterns.
China
China Genome: Surface Reflections of Cultural DNA
A large collection of China. What stood out to me here was a tea set where all of the components had been shaped to resemble abstract birds. It was executed expertly in an abstract and contemporary way and kept the balance without becoming ornamental.
Uzbek Design
The Once and Future Garden
A space inspired by the gardens that once surrounded Samarkand. What I liked in this exhibition space was the beautiful patterned glass bowls, particularly the choices of colours and the play with transparent and opaque glass.
If you happen to be in London and want to see it for yourself – the exhibition is open until the 29th of June.
FRIDA RAGNAR 