SOFIA DESIGN WEEK

2011-06-20

About Sofia Design Week edition this year a lot was written and said, the event was in the center of attention for one whole week – from 10 to 18 June, 2011. What can be told? Hardly someone failed to inform oneself about what is happening, especially if one has interest on the topic. This is only the third edition of the event, organized from EDNO magazine. But though it just starts walking the event succeeded to concentrate on its basic mission – education. Design gets out in the street with the motto: “Design is all around”. And this lasts a whole week. People – professionals and amateurs took part in it. Here are some accents of what happened.

LECTIONS

The forum is a traditional form for the event and other elements are arranged around it.  The stars who arrived this year were Mataly Krase – for opening the forum and Konstantin Gricic – to close it. Without any doubt they both shared interesting thoughts with the public. But also remarkable was the overall selection of participants for its diversity of styles and point of views presented. Yong authors with new ideas presented projects not only in the field of product and industrial design but also in fashion, graphic design, musical and interactive design.

IN THE BATH

Under the roof of Central Mineral Bath, turned into a wonderful primitive place, with no excessive luxury, comfortably were set few exhibitions. Most visited from people in high managing state positions, models and lifestyle stars was the one of the Italian design. The most encouraging - the one presenting products of Bulgarian authors in the field of product design. The participants were known names as Alexander Petrov, studio FUNKT and Rada Dicheva in the company of younger Peter Zaharinov, Vladimir Rachev, Desislava Boiadjieva, Georgi Manasiev, Nikola Nikolov, Konstantin Achkov and Marina Dragomirova. It is too early to talk about style, for European professionalism or to make a general conclusion on the topic, whatsoever. It is nice that there are ideas and energy for their realization. And wonderful examples, though often they are too close to the boutique products, unique or limited edition. It is logical that with the lack of industry in the country it is hard to create industrial design… We leave with mixed feelings also from the title of the exhibition: “Is is here or not: Bulgarian product design now.

IN THE WATER TOWER

One of the most active groups for design settled there – CHERGA. With their products and the workshop, organized by them, they succeeded to create one more starting point for Bulgarian design. In the center of attention of the visitors there were the products of Velichko Velichkov part of which will soon be produced in the Italian factory LAGO. The works of younger members of the group also make good impression.

GALERIES

In the spaces of many state galleries different topics were exhibited – Austrian, French and Balkan product design. Private galleries also took part in the event. In the Museum of foreign art Mr. Clement (www.mrclement.com) showed part of the adventures of his commix character – LAPIN rabbit. This story he also told at Pecha Kucha (platform for informal meetings and presentation of different artists, designers, architects - www.pechakuchasofia.wordpress.com). His sculptures and drawings are one of the first exhibited things of this genre of contemporary art here. TESTA gallery presented to the public making of jewelry as plastic art, dealing with the problems of space and the objects in it but in different, micro scale.

ACTIVITY

This forum was different from the similar events organized so far. If before, the meetings stayed closed in the halls, this time the provocation was that the public was really engaged in everything happening. Some of the visitors are collecting 50 stamps from objects connected to design. Other visitors took part in the Puma workshop, for creating their own garment. Enormous interest evoked all kinds of workshops as well as the special program for kids, part of which was the Paper town of Vicky Knish. And at the end – the turning point of the forum, called “Sofia breaths: Design” with multiple events on Shishman street. For those who missed it can only wait to the next edition. Or to take a look at http://www.flickr.com/photos/ednobg/5849076590/in/photostream/

COMMENTS

Among the guests of the forum was Johana Aagerman Ross, design-critic from Great Britain. I asked her about her impression of what is happening. Her comment was that for the moment it is difficult catch a certain clear direction in the works she is seeing. She would like to see more authenticity in the products. “You have so wonderful traditions in crafts, why is nobody using this?” was what she asked me.

Talking to Andres, the curator of the Austrian design exhibition he shared a similar opinion: “why do you try to be like every other design festival. Look for your own identity.”

It is hard to look for common and different in the little presentations of young Bulgarian designers. And despite, something can be found – the exploration of some of the authors of the topic of joint. Some work with surfaces, others with volumes. But the search of simple connection between elements without additional elements is for some reason a provocation for Peter Zaharinov, Konstantin Achkov and other designers.