Operæ Independent Design Fair 2017 in Turin
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Curated by Alice Stori Liechtenstein, the eighth edition of the Operae design fair will run from November 3 through November 5, 2017, in Turin, Italy. Operae is a fair where galleries and designers present alongside each other, making it stand out from t
Operæ Independent Design Fair 2017 in Turin
Curated by Alice Stori Liechtenstein, the eighth edition of the Operae design fair will run from November 3 through November 5, 2017, in Turin, Italy. Operae is a fair where galleries and designers present alongside each other, making it stand out from the panorama of other design events. This year’s theme, “Why Design,” takes as its starting point a quote from Enzo Mari, which reads, “The quality of a project depends on the level of cultural change it triggers, even if it is a small one.” The theme aims to call attention to design that not only fulfills a task, but is also a potent symbol of contemporary values. Liechtenstein said, “By asking ‘Why Design?,’ I realized design has become a language, a way of expressing ideas. It is no longer just a production of objects.”The visitors can expect to see bold objects that are not scared of making a statement and that have the potential to redefine contemporary aesthetics. The fair showcases works by designers who go beyond the object and use it as a pretext to narrate a story. It aims to embrace a more open definition of design, one that recognizes design as a bridge between creative and scientific disciplines. “Because designers have such inquisitive minds, they have started applying their research method to food, textiles, ecology, and science. This is how design is becoming a bridge between disciplines,” added Liechtenstein. There are designers who experiment by mixing old and new technologies such as Laurids Gallée, others like Astrid Luglio who investigate sensorial perception, while designers like Crafting Plastics Studio are developing bioplastics for the production of eyewear.The highlights include 14 galleries, many of which are foreign, all dealing in contemporary design and committed to research and fulfilling a strategic role in championing emerging designers. The Piemonte Handmade is a project where a designer supported by a gallery is matched to an artisan from the Piedmont region. The designers involved have come up with inventive projects which showcase the skills of the artisans and propose new techniques. Some examples of the project include the collaboration between Camp Design Gallery with Elena Salmistraro and Trakatan’s “Medusa,” a hanging chair that is inspired by a rare jellyfish. Carwan and Carlo Massoud have created a street facade made of jewels and silver in collaboration with jeweler Annaratone.In an exclusive interview, Liechtenstein said, “In order to find the right designers to present, I have been talent scouting regularly now for almost four years, and I am starting to have a good picture of the young contemporary design scene. It was great to have the opportunity at Operae to invite a broader group and work with many other designers,” noted Domus. Read more
