Reykjavík Grapevine - 14.03.2014, Blaðsíða 50

DesignTalks
The signature event of DesignMarch,
a day-long seminar, centres this year
on designers role as visionaries and
strategists. Our world today faces
multiple global issues that could use
the designer's innate ability to detect
opportunities and to invent and cre-
ate alternatives. Curator Hlín Helga
Guðlaugsdóttir underlines “the design-
ers’ responsibility to rethink instead
of repair broken systems, institutions,
healthcare, governments.” Speakers
include Mikael Schiller of Acne Studios,
Robert Wong of Google Creative Lab,
Marco Steinberg, Kathryn Firth and
Calvin Klein. Best of all, at 7,900 ISK,
the tickets are a bargain.
March 27, 9:00-16:00, Harpa.
Tickets available via midi.is
Spark Design Space
With a consistently superb exhibition
calendar and a beautifully curated store
with a broad selection of the best of
Icelandic design, Spark Design Space
should be on your itinerary regardless
of when you visit. This DesignMarch,
Spark exhibits ‘Designs from Nowhere,’
a group exhibition by local and inter-
national designers that explores the
possibilities for design and small scale
production in East Iceland, using local
materials and resources. It is curated
by Pete Collard of the London Design
Museum and among the partaking
designers is the rising star Þórunn Ár-
nadóttir, whose PyroPet is Grapevine's
Best Product of 2013.
Klapparstígur 33
Design From Greenland
And The Faroe Islands
Not that there wouldn’t be enough to
explore in terms of Icelandic design
alone, our neighbours Greenland and
the Faroe Islands will for the first time
be present at DesignMarch too. Design
store Kraum showcases a dozen or so
Faroese design labels, while the Green-
landic design label Inuk Design exhibits
its products at Epal. Yet another ex-
ample of the growing West Nordic col-
laboration is the amazing work by the
Nordic House together with the pho-
tographer duo Cooper & Gorfer on ‘The
Weather Diaries,’ a curator’s cut poster
exhibition and book telling the stories
of Icelandic, Faroese and Greenlandic
fashion via dark, mystic and romantic
images mixing photography, illustration
and 18th Century painting.
Kraum, Aðalstraeti 10
Epal, both at Harpa and Skeifan
Nordic House, Sturlugata 5
Order To Effect
With a limited amount of raw materials
available on this barren island, local
designers have often looked into their
food cupboards for materials and inspi-
ration. This latest undertaking by Auður
Ösp Guðmundsdóttir and her team
pushes the field further from products
towards service design. Set in Icelan-
dair Hotel Reykjavík Natura, Order To
Effect is an entirely new and innovative
way to eat out: you order your dishes
based on the desired effect on your
body. For a starter, some more energy;
for a main, improved quality of sleep
with lowered blood pressure on the
side; and for dessert, perhaps a little
boost to my immune system, please!
Nauthóltsvegur 52, reservations
at +354 444 4050
Female – Form – Creation
In an interesting opening that blurs the
line between art and design, Icelandic
artist superstar Ragnar Kjartansson
teams up with the Icelandic Association
of Ceramic Artists for a performance
that gives praise to their working
process. If you saw Ragnar’s exhibit
‘The Visitors,’ most recently exhibited
at Kling & Bang in Reykjavík, you are
probably already a believer, but if not,
this is a great opportunity to see some-
thing new, experimental and previously
unseen. This is what DesignMarch is
at its best—a laboratory for entirely
new experiments that bring together
talented people from various different
creative fields.
March 29, 13:00-17:00, Víkin,
Grandagarður 8
PS: It is impossible to pick only five things from the massive programme. You should also
see the latest Staka pieces. You should see the Rendez-wood? exhibit by students from the
design school of this treeless island. You should also eat DesignMarchipan and tweet with
the hashtag #yofreckles, and… See the complete programme on the next page, online at
designmarch.is and download the DesignMarch app for iPhone and Android.
Words by Sari Peltonen
Don’t Miss
These!
49
Crymogea, Barónsstígur 27,
101 Reykjavík
Glacial Dishware
Design studio Postulína presents
Jökla (Glacial) , new handmade
porcelain tableware inspired by the
magical and versatile Icelandic gla-
ciers. During DesignMarch, it will be
matched with photographer Vigfús
Birgisson’s otherworldly landscapes.
Opening Thursday March 27 at
8:30 pm.
50
Hlemmur Square, Laugavegur 105,
105 Reykjavík
Series X by Mót
Benches for both indoor and
outdoor use that were originally de-
signed as part of a project to revive
forgotten picnic spots in Reykjavik.
Designed by design studio Mót,
Series X premiers a new addition to
its collection during DesignMarch.
Opening Thursday March 27 at 6
pm.
Chicago – Beijing – Reykjavik
The tallest building in the USA,
retail and office building in Paris,
museums in China and a cultural
house in Inner Mongolia – the
exhibition offers a glimpse at the
works by architect Björn Stefán
Hallsson. Opening Thursday March
27 at 5.30 pm.
51
Höfðatorg (20th floor),
Katrínartún 2, 105 Reykjavík
Book launch and exhibition by
PK Arkitektar
A new monograph celebrating the
work of Icelandic architect Pálmar
Kristmundsson will be feted on the
20th floor of the Höfðatorg tower,
accompanied by an exhibition of
design and architecture by PK
Arkitektar.
Food Couture
Health food restaurant Happ com-
missioned design studio Attikatti to
design a special menu emphasizing
healthy, high quality ingredients and
amazing appearance. These special
“couture” dishes will only be avail-
able during DesignMarch so feast
your eyes, your tastebuds and good
conscience while you can.
52
Fosshótel Lind, Rauðarárstígur 18,
105 Reykjavík
Rendez-wood?
Fosshótel Lind, Rauðarárstígur 18,
105 Reykjavík
Third year students in product
design at Iceland’s Academy of the
Arts exhibit a collection of projects
that explore the current value and
potential uses of the Icelandic wood,
a rare commodity in the near tree-
less land.
53
Skipholt 33 (back entrance),
105 Reykjavík
S33
The S33 Creative collective cel-
ebrate DesignMarch with a big
party. Drinks, live music, a DJ, a
wheel of fortune and lots of joy to
spread around. The S33 creatives
open their studios and workspaces
on Friday March 28 from 5–8 pm.
54
Bolholt 4, 105 Reykjavík
The Designer's Toys
New children’s toys, lamps,
handbags and all kinds of items
by Geislar Design. More than a
hundred of the company’s designs
from the past two years will be on
display. Designer Guðjón Örn Lárus-
son will introduce three dimensional
printing on Thursday March 27 from
6–10 pm.
55
Icelandair Hótel Reykjavík Natura,
Nauthólsvegur 52, 101 Reykjavík
Your Perfect Day
Your Perfect Day design stores at
hotels Icelandair Reykjavik Natura
and Hilton Reykjavik Nordica pres-
ent new additions to their selection.
You’ll also find an ocean inspired
Pop Up market at Reykjavik Marina
hotel
Order Effect
Satt, Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik
Natura
Strengthen your brain, bones or
heart. At this restaurant, guests
will be able to order their preferred
health effects from a dish. Chefs,
designers and nutritionists have
collaborated on this unforgettable
meal, presented as a visual reminder
of the fact that our bodies need care
and fuel with great food that is both
delicious, healthy and made from
the best ingredients.
The price for a three course
meal with appetizers is 7.900 kr.
Please note that this restaurant is
only open on DesignMarch.
Call (+354) 444 4050 for reserva-
tions.
56
Reykjavik City Theatre,
Listabraut 3, 103 Reykjavík
The Curious Incident of the Design-
ers
Fourteen graphic designers create
posters for the play The Curious
Incident of the Dog in the Night-
Time, a production set to premiere
in Reykjavik City Theatre in March.
The exhibition is a collabora-
tion between the theatre and The
Association of Icelandic Graphic
Designers. Opening Monday March
24 from 4–6 pm.
57
Epal, Skeifan 6, 108 Reykjavík
The Countless Colours of Icelan-
dic Design
Design store Epal presents the
most interesting Icelandic design
by a diverse group of designers.
Since 1975, the store has strived to
enhance understanding and respect
for design in Iceland by choosing a
selection of outstanding quality for
their stores. Opening Wednesday
March 27 5–7 pm.
58
Gerðuberg, Gerðuberg 3–5, 111
Reykjavík
Tint
Textile designers María Valsdóttir,
Sæunn Þorsteinsdóttir and Þóra
Björk Schram bring out the vast
world of textile design in children’s
clothing, delicate jewellery and
colourful gift cards, using different
colours, patterns, form and fabric.
Opening Friday March 28 at 4 pm.
59
Hönnunarsafn Íslands, Garðatorg 1,
210 Garðabæ
Are you ready, Madam President?
An exhibition of clothing and ac-
cessories from the presidency of
Madam Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, the
first democratically elected female
head of state whose clothing had to
adhere to protocols and traditions
not necessarily intended for women.
Kosmos – Dögg Guðmundsdóttir
Designer Dögg Guðmundsdóttir
is one of many Icelandic design-
ers currently working with foreign
production companies. Her designs
are influenced by Icelandic national
treasures, bringing together the
diversity of the Icelandic landscape
and traditional craftsmanship in an
innovative way. Opening Wednesday
March 26 at 6 pm.
60
Hafnarborg, Strandgata 34, 220
Hafnarfjörður
Fancy – Cake in the Sun
An exhibition of selected prints
from 1957 to 1993 by Dieter Roth,
one of contemporary art’s pioneers.
Originally from Switzerland, Roth
lived and worked in Iceland for
many years, leaving a mark on an
entire generation of up-and-coming
artists. Opening Saturday March 22
at 3 pm.
Hafnarborg, Strandgata 34, 220
Hafnarfjörður
ShopShow
A travelling exhibition of Nordic
contemporary design that highlights
the interplay of production and
consumerism with an emphasis on
the product’s traceability. Among
participants are Icelandic designer
teams Hugdetta and Vík Prjónsdót-
tir. Opening Saturday March 22 at
3 pm.
61
Seltjarnarnes Library,
Eiðistorg 11, 170 Seltjarnarnes
Our Hometown
An exhibition of graphic designer and
visual artist Elsa Nielsen‘s photographs
of suburban peninsula Seltjarnarnes,
known for its large villas and stunning
ocean views. Nielsen layers series of
digital photographs to create a new take
on her home town. Opening Thursday
March 27 at 5 pm.
62
Keflavik International Airport, 235
Reykjanesbær
Guide to Icelandic Design
The vast flora of Icelandic design is
reflected in the shops and restaurants at
Keflavik International airport. A sort of
window into Icelandic design, the airport
gives you a chance to enjoy as well as
shop for a good price. Be sure to arrive
on time to enjoy this display of the local
design jewels.