While the conference part of Design Indaba is aimed at the professionals, the Expo is the part the public has taken a shine to.
Top designers descend upon Cape Town to talk about challenging the limits of design and what the future holds for creativity, but what we’re really interested in is seeing what the latest trendy designer item looks like.
The Expo runs from Friday, February 25, to Sunday, February 27, at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. Tickets are R60 for adults, R30 for kids over 10, at the door or from Computicket.
Of the 280 exhibitors, 60 are first-timers, which is quite a feat considering the first Expo had only 40 exhibitors in total. The exhibitors range from furniture to jewellery designers to several designers who turn garbage into beautiful art and fun art in the form of funky USB drives.
Not only is this a chance to see what the latest design trends are and, perhaps, pick up a must-have item or two, but there’s also scope for some entertainment.
The film festival component runs from tomorrow to February 27 at the Freeworld Design Centre on Waterkant Street (check www.designindaba.com/filmfest for programme schedule).
The DStv Event Arena will feature fashion shows, workshops for children (please visit www.designindaba.com for the full programme) and a music and comedy session. Tomorrow night at 6pm Nik Rabinowitz, Liz Ogumbo, and Liquid Sax will strut their stuff, while John Vlismas, Lindiwe Suttle and DJ Biggy C will take their turn on Saturday.
This year, the Design Indaba Party will be open to the public for the first time today at Trinity on Bennet Street in De Waterkant. The line-up is strong, featuring Spoek Mathambo who is burning up the European and US independent scene, Soft Touch Operation, Unsound System, Lindiwe Suttle, Card on Spokes, Monique Pascall, 7ft Sound System, Honey B and Black Coffee. UK-based legend DJ Yoda will perform an audio-visual set and a mystery artist will also put in an appearance. Tickets are R100 at Computicket.
Just so you don’t have to run on empty, there’s also a foodie component. Under a Bedouin tent on the Design Indaba Expo floor you’ll find more than 40 food traders who produce ethical and organic food at the Earth Fair Market.
Then, the work of Guy du Toit, Gordon Froud (both former Absa L’Atelier Merit Award winners) and contemporary artist and poet Kai Lossgott (a finalist in Absa Atelier) will be exhibited at the Absa Art Gallery. Lossgott’s delicate work on leaves will be exhibited – he makes minute incisions, punctures and impressions on leaves to form text and images visible only against the light.
The intricacy of his impressions offset the harder, more solid sculpture of the other two artists, says Cecile Loedolff, curator and director of the ABSA Art Collection.
“We select our artists for Design Indaba from those who have been part of the Absa L’Atelier, a platform for young artists. Kai’s softer images make a huge statement against the other works and show fine art work in a uniquely different medium. Showing these contrasting pieces reinforces the links to nature and the human being,” said Loedolff.
Froud will be displaying his design ideas in a series of works that emphasise the use of multiples, constructed in a way that they create new form and meaning.
“The central piece is a mobile made of silver-coloured metals constructed from household objects like kettles, plates, and sieves. Each arm of the mobile moves independently, assisted by the wind or by human intervention,” explained Froud.
The piece is counterpointed by static silver found objects rising from the floor and there will be metallic viruses on four plinths around the gallery.
“Viruses in real life are multiple forms combined that attack and conquer host cells, multiplying as they go. The metallic theme has been kept to enhance the overall look of the show,” said Froud, who has also designed a range of furniture which he will launch at the Expo. - Cape Argus