Dec 9, 2013

Ambiente 2014: Loft Talents Between Concept and Art

Good ideas do not fall like manna from Heaven. At Ambiente in Frankfurt, however, cognoscenti know where they are to be found: among the participants of the successful Talents promotional programme. As in the past, 18 young designers, design studios and university graduates will make presentations in the Talents area of Loft Hall 11.0 from 7 to 11 February 2014. With their stimulating projects, the newcomers aim to interest both exhibitors and visitors of the world’s biggest consumer-goods fair in their work.

“We initiated the Talents programme as a systematic careers launching pad for up-and-coming designers. Talents promotes matchmaking between the young avant-garde and manufacturers and enables them to present their concepts and product ideas to an audience of experts at the fair”, says Nicolette Naumann, Vice President Ambiente/Tendence.

The young designers selected for the Talents promotional programme benefit from a free exhibition stand and help in preparing for their presentation – in many cases, their first at an international event. “I see the programme as an investment in the future, from which the entire sector benefits”, adds Naumann. This year, the ‘Talents’ in Hall 11.0, the focal point for design-oriented home accessories, furniture, luminaires, textiles and design objects, come from eleven countries. There is another Talents area spotlighting the table and kitchen in Hall 4.0.

Between art and concept

Effortless creativity and conceptual strength combined with an artistic approach are characteristic of the ‘Talents’ in the Loft hall. German designer Bert Löschner is a good example of this. In his ‘Monobloc’ project, he changes the emotional significance of the mass-produced white plastic garden chairs, which have been around since the seventies, by giving them almost human characteristics.

The work of the Dutch designers of Handmade Industrials Studio revolves around stylistic freedom. Thus, they drew inspiration for their ‘Happy Misfits’ collection from the ability of bodybuilders to seemingly shape their bodies as they wish. The specially developed production process uses balloons and polystyrene pearls and enables the designers to shape their pieces of furniture live in front of an audience. Martinho Pita has a completely different approach. The Portuguese architect likes to leave things as they are. He calls his holm-oak luminaires ‘Bichos – creatures’. Each luminaire is hand crafted and unique – as unique as plants growing in the great outdoors.

The ‘Giant Flowers’ by Julia Lipinsky from Berlin are big, wild and colourful. These floral objects made of fabric transform rooms into curious oases. Inspired by nature, she plays with the diversity of materials, textures and fabrics, and, for example, mixes rough denim with smooth velvet or fine fabrics with sailcloth.

Furniture for all occasions

Many of the Talents’ designs reflect a playful high-heartedness about everyday life. Although there are no problems, there are lots of solutions. The ‘furniture for messies’ storage system by Israeli product designer Rotem Ben Shalom, who is exhibiting at Ambiente under the ROT-M label, helps clear up the mess using hoists to lift storage bowls under the ceiling. Functionality is also important for Kikuchi Shinichi of Kobe Ishou Sourenjyo. The creative thinker from Japan presents a child’s desk that the child can leaf through like a picture book to find the top best suited to his or her needs.

Brazilian Carol Gay takes everyday things out of their original and usual setting and puts them in new, extraordinary contexts. At the same time, she combines industrial products with hand-crafted elements. For example, coloured wire mesh is turned into seat upholstery and plastic cups into table legs.

Art déco versus art brut

The international ‘Bozu Italian workshop design’ studio pursues a conceptual idea with its ‘Industry Collection’. Based on the architecture of the art déco epoch, the designers have based their series of vases not on famous buildings but rather on industrial water towers and silos typical of the time. The naïve authenticity of art brut provides the inspiration for the young Chinese Brut Cake studio. The term comes from the French and describes art created outside the boundaries of official culture. Hence, the English term ‘outsider art’. The name of designer Nicole Teng’s label combines the avant-garde approach (brut) with the comforting and light simplicity symbolised by a piece of cake. She will be bringing her hand-made pottery collection, which impresses in all respects except perfection.

Young design from Japan

Youkoso – Ambiente Japan extends a cordial welcome to Japan as its Partner Country 2014 and visitors will be able to discover young design from the Land of the Rising Sun among the Talents. Thus, IFFT, Kobe Ishou Sourenjyo, Mikiya Kobayasahi Inc. and Studio Surume will be presenting their designs – many of them award winning – for the modern Asian way of life. From home accessories to children’s products, visitors will be able to gain a valuable impression of the creativity of the younger generation of Japanese designers.

Ambiente, the leading international trade fair

Ambiente is the leading international trade fair for products for the table, kitchen, household, giving and decorating, as well as for home and furnishing accessories. Ambiente is an event distinguished by superlatives and unrivalled worldwide thanks to its unique horizontal and vertical range of products. For five days at the beginning of the business year, 2013, more than 4,700 exhibitors showed their new products and innovations for the coming season. With 140,000 trade buyers from over 140 countries in 2013, the world’s leading consumer-goods fair also offers a wide variety of events, promotional programmes for young people, trend presentations and awards ceremonies.

Note for journalists:

You will find further information about the 2014 Ambiente Talents and high-resolution photographs on the internet at

http://ambiente.messefrankfurt.com/frankfurt/de/besucher/events/talents.html

You will find further information about Ambiente and high-resolution photographs on the internet at www.ambiente.messefrankfurt.com/journalists.

Follow Ambiente on Twitter with hashtag #Ambiente14: www.twitter.com/ambiente

Background information on Messe Frankfurt

Messe Frankfurt is one of the world’s leading trade fair organiser, with 536.9 million euros in sales and 1,833 employees. The Messe Frankfurt Group has a global network of 28 subsidiaries and approx. 50 international Sales Partners, giving it a presence for its customers in more than 150 countries. Events “made by Messe Frankfurt” take place at more than 30 locations around the globe. In 2012, Messe Frankfurt organised 109 trade fairs, of which more than half took place outside Germany.

Messe Frankfurt’s exhibition grounds, featuring 578,000 square metres, are currently home to ten exhibition halls and an adjacent Congress Centre. The company is publicly owned, with the City of Frankfurt holding 60 percent and the State of Hesse 40 percent.

For more information, please visit our website at: www.messefrankfurt.com