returns for its fourth iteration from 9-12 March. Taking place at the Shanghai Exhibition Centre, this year’s fair promises to feature work from over 300 product and design brands, alongside a series of聽specially聽curated installations by artists from all over the world. We take a look at the highlights for 2016, ahead of the fair’s grand opening next month.
Following聽its presentation at the V&A in 2015, a bespoke聽version of London-based Norwegian designer Kim Thom茅’s Zotem is to be created聽for the聽fair’s Features section.聽Comprising over 600 enlarged Swarovski crystals in a matte black frame, Zotem uses light and a vividly coloured moving canvas to create ephemeral, almost digital refractions. As befits the name, the zoetrope-esque structure of the canvas mechanism draws the eye upwards, much like a traditional totem pole. Remaining with the themes of glass, light and movement, Petra Krausova for Lasvit’s kinetic installation, 厂耻辫别谤苍辞惫补,听will also be on show.聽As a multitude of glass panes move, focused light is refracted to create shifting, room-filling light patterns.
Elsewhere, in the Classic Design Hall, multiple award-winning Chinese designer Jamy Yang will return to the show with New聽Craftsmanship by聽YANG HOUSE. The installation aims to show how traditional handicrafts and Chinese traditions can be combined with modern design and lifestyle. Ideas of East and West pervade the Classic Design Hall, which focuses on bringing Eastern聽traditions and craftsmanship to Western聽culture, and vice versa.
Meanwhile, the Contemporary Design Hall聽assembles the very best contemporary design houses internationally. Belgian design brand BuzziSpace will聽launch聽its sustainable and acoustically-driven design聽collections for the first time in Asia, and聽Armourcoat聽returns聽with its world-renowned聽polished plaster and high performance surface finishes.聽Additional design brands in attendance include Cassina, Vitra, Magis, Moroso, ibride, Seletti, HAY, Driade, Alessi, Artisan, and Maxmarko.
Following China’s re-emergence on the global design scene, internationalism is more important than ever to ensure development for practitioners across the globe. Design Shanghai aims to navigate the new relationships springing up between the design traditions of both hemispheres in their Forum programme.聽This year’s theme of聽The Language of Design will be discussed by a series of speakers ranging from Patricia Urquiola, Art Director of Cassina to Singer/songwriter and co-founder of Kanjian Creations Dadawa.
Finally, the Collectables Design Hall showcases the highest level of design and artistry with a range of one-off pieces, including聽works from Gallery All, Tai Ping Carpets and Chaircreative. Perhaps most striking is a newly designed Chronopage from John C Taylor OBE, featuring a Chinese dragon astride the familiar golden wheels of the famous timepiece.
Design Shanghai, 9-12 March, Shanghai Exhibition Centre,聽No. 1000 Yan’an Mid Road,聽Jing’an District, Shanghai 200040.
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Credits
1. Supernova by Petra Krausova for Lasvit.
