While many of Europe's desginers check out of the studio for a summer hiatus in August, the design scene down-under is in full swing. In Sydney, designers and creative talents could be found showcasing the fruits of their labour at Sydney Indesign – an annual three-day programme of talks, exhibitions, collaborations, installations and product launches that take place in showrooms and pop-up locations across the city.
One of this year's not-to-be-missed happenings was 'Side Project'; a slickly-produced exhibition/retail pop-up which saw some of Australia's brightest design talents unite to present new limited edition pieces. Fusing elements of a gallery show, a retail store and a trade event into one offering, 'Side Project' took over the entire ground floor of a four-storey complex called The Stables in Sydney's Surry Hills suburb, with new conceptual and experimental work by names such as Australian LA-based artist Jonathan Zawada, the prolific Daniel Emma studio and Sydney-based design duo Page Thirty Three among others.
Bianca Riggio of Page Thirty Three curated the exhibition. Presenting a new collection of lighting, furniture and accessories called Tactile Equations, she told us,
'Being a designer can at times be an isolating pursuit, I have really wanted to connect with fellow Australian designers and creatives, and 'Side Project' became a vehicle to do so. Doing projects like this gives you a new energy to keep creating.'
Other pieces on show included new ceramic lighting by Porcelain Bear and Jonathan Zawada, marble-print surfboards by Haydenshapes, graphic prints by Tin & Ed and slogan balloons by Sydney studio Brown Cardigan – all available for visitors to buy.
Fusing elements of a gallery exhibition, a retail store and a trade show into one offering, 'Side Project' took over the entire ground floor of four-storey complex The Stables, in Sydney's Surry Hills suburb
Pieces for sale included new conceptual and experimental work by independent talents such as Australian LA-based artist Jonathan Zawada, the prolific Daniel Emma studio and Sydney-based design duo Page Thirty Three, among others
New work by Jonathan Zawada includes Affordances #2 (Ω.M.G. Lean Into the Wind) – a two-component LED lamp object that can be arranged in a variety of ways, with or without the base
Left to right: DOC vase (small) by Porcelain Bear, Staircase paperweight by Studiokyss, stationery container by Daniel Emma, Garden Spork by Page Thirty Three, balloon by Brown Cardigan
From left to right: DOC vase by Porcelain Bear, Superstructure oil burner by Page Thirty Three, and carafe and cups by Ode Ceramics
Sydney-based Brown Cardigan created a series of three latex slogan balloons
Melbourne-based studio Porcelain Bear produced new special editions of their geometric I-O-N lamps for the show
Kite Stool, by Blakebrough + King – a home accessories company founded by Ben Blakebrough and Sarah King that operates from the duo's workshop in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales
From left to right: Zigzag candelabra by Blakebrough + King, Void incense burner by Page Thirty Three, Interlock candle holders by Page Thirty Three, and sake carafe and cups by Ode Ceramics
Sydney-based studio Page Thirty Three presented a new collection of lighting, furniture and accessories called Tactile Equations, which included this series of interlocking candle holders
Garden Spork by Page Thirty Three, Torii base by Jonathan Zawada, Affordances lamp by Jonathan Zawada, large planter by Ode Ceramics
The exhibition's curator, Bianca Riggio of Page Thirty Three, told us: 'The common theme between all participants is a thirst for exploration within their respective field and a tone of voice that is conceptual, modern and above all, experimental.' Pictured: Zig Zag table, by Page Thirty Three
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