Rina Menardi

Italian artist Rina Menardi is developping beautiful ceramic from 1980.

The artist says about her work: “ Clay allows me to give a three-dimensional shape to the here- and-now ‘me’. It is a way of communicating with myself, and therefore with others. I simply strive to respect the natural surfacing of things that are already within us”.

Corn Craft - gallery FUMI and Studio Toogood

Gallery FUMI in London did host "Corn Craft", a very special exhibition for celebrating corn.

The show presents how corn is transformed from inexpensive raw material to refined, sustainable design.

The event, curated by Faye Toogood, did include also Nacho Carbonell, Rowan Mersh and Raw-Edges Design Studio magical products and corn installations.

I hear talking about a "craft trend" so much these days; this is a clear and beautiful example of it and and an apportunity for celebrating folk crafts.

Biomimicry - Ask Nature

Some weeks ago I had the pleasure to attend to a special seminar about Senses, Sources and Evolution.
One of the lectures was about Biomimicry, which is the science and art of emulating Nature's best biological ideas in order to solve human problems. The Biomimicry Institute has a very clear website about their researches; you must have a look at it.
The lecture was a very inspiring moment, there is so much that the industry has already "copied" from nature, like how does nature create self cleaning surfaces? how does nature keep heat and cool a home? you can find even more answers to your questions on the AskNature website.

Jean-Philippe Delhomme

French illustrator Jean-Philippe Delhomme recently published a new book, "The Cultivated Life".

I love his style; he can translate the "pains" of our modern life (such as fashion, design, art) with an incredible humor and perhaps a small dose of cinism!
This book is definitely the right present for one of your self-absorbed but chic friends!

Ladyslipper

This modern terrarium is designed by Lindsey Taylor, a garden designer and former editor at Martha Stewart Living, and produced in colaboration with Atlas Industries.

It is a kind of piece of art displying fresh orchids and other plants, it does not need any care because it is ecologically balanced, as long as it is out of direct sun light.

Paul Loebach

Unfortunately I missed the exhibitions of Paul Loebach work, last April during the Salone Internazionale del Mobile, in Milan. I am sure his work must be amazing seen live.

I hear so much about "the come back of craft" and "the need to be more in touch with crafts for designers" these days, Paul seems to proof this trend is true.

Beautiful wood work, almost like a sculpture.

Maria Ikonomopoulou

Greek artist Maria Ikonomopoulou combines different techniques with photography.
In  "You All over Me" she uses cut outs of the names of the people with whom she worked for create a beautiful installation.
In ‘Spaces between us’ embroideries fill the negative spaces between two or more photographed subjects, whereas in ‘looking through’ the subjects are cut out, in an attempt to re-evaluate the original spaces in-between.

Farmer in search of style

The Design Huis in Eindhoven (The Netherlands), Dutch Design Museum under the artistic direction of Li Edelkoort, is now exhibiting a very interesting selection of design concepts about the "new farmer" trend.
Particolarly interesting:
* the Farm Project, by Mike Meire', which aims to teach to kids (and perhaps adults as well) the authenticity of the kitchen, with colours, smell, rituals and more;
*Studio Job farm tools in bronze, a celebration of life on the farm;
*Chikens portraits by Koen Vanmechelen, like true individuals;
*David Olschewski garden work tools, beautiful objects for the interiors;
*Axe Chairs, by Floris Schoonderbeek, beautifl chairs made of existing axe handles by the swedish company Gransfors.
*"Harvest", research project by Frank Tjepkema; it is a self supporting house, living community, amusementpark and restaurant. This project aims to bring back the bond between people and their sources of food and energy.

Forma Fantasma

Italian designers Andrea Trimarchi and Simone Farresin are the brains behind the Forma Fantasma design studio. The name means "Invisible Shape" in Italian.

The two recently graduated from the IM Master  program at the Design Academy Eindhoven with a very interesting research about the concept of "tradion".

Their inspiration came from the city of Caltagirone, a part of the “ Sicilian baroque district”; groups of cities famous for their beautiful 17th century architecture. The city is also famous for its ceramics and its purported local tradition. At least three hundred craftsmen are working in the city.

The citizens of the city use a word to describe the incredible amount of ceramic produced there: tradition.

The Designers say: "As iconic core and inspiration we used one of the most famous traditional Sicilian artwork: “teste di moro”. These are copies of vases of the 17th century that display the face of a native African- or Arab-looking man or woman. These artefact refer to a period of Sicilian history when Arab-African people conquered Sicily. Due to this invasion the tradition of majolica started in Italy and later in other European countries. Our project is a statement on the ephemeral concept of tradition and shows the contradictions of a decadent culture: if as Italians (and European) we are able to represent our culture with a "Moor vase", at the same time we must be able to go beyond prejudice and fear, and to let our culture change in the course of time. "

I really love this project, their topic is definetely something about what the creative world needs to reflect upon.