THE SELECTION COMMITTEE CONFERRED THE INITIATIVE, THE OBJECT AND THE TALENT AWARDS OF 2018
|
Beirut Design Fair wishes to particularly thank its Selection Committee
for its significant contribution to the success of the fair’s second
edition (2018). All of the five Committee members enjoy a close
relationship to Beirut, this ever-evolving city with a cosmopolitan
openness and exposure. As interior architects, architects, designers,
creative minds, and unique talent hunters, they hold the human aspect
at the core of their endeavours.
Aline Asmar d’Amman, Lina Ghotmeh, Karim Chaya, Marc Baroud and Mathias Ohrel
closely participated to the elaboration of the fair, the selection of
exhibitors, and the attribution of the three Beirut Design Awards of
its 2018 edition. Initiative, Innovation and Talent were particularly
highlighted in the three awards bestowed on Thursday 20th September by
the Selection Committee.
Initiative Award: Joy Mardini Design Gallery
|
|
|
|
This distinction was awarded to Joy Mardini Design Gallery
for believing in Lebanese designers, and contributing to the
production, presentation and promotion of their work in Lebanon and
internationally – in a spirit of quality, manifestly required but met
with true generosity. The founder of the gallery, Joy Mardini, had also
received, along with the founders of Beirut Art Residency, this same
prize for the designer internship project of last year.
Joy particularly contributed, ahead of Beirut Design Fair in September
of this year, to the radiance of Lebanese design, notably in Paris
where, with the fair’s contribution, many of the designers she
represents were hailed at the Rising Talent Awards of Maison&Objet, dedicated to young Lebanese designers.
With this award, the jury wished to salute all of Joy Mardini's
investment in the service of design, the cultural influence of Lebanon,
and the practice of this discipline emanating from Beirut and going
beyond the national frontiers.
Object Award: Fadi sarieddine
|
|
|
|
This was awarded to Fadi Sarieddine for his project / object "Damascus Revisited" and his "Live Design Station".
The committee was particularly seduced by the immersive, symbolic and
playful qualities of Fadi's work. His idea of appropriating the
creative approach and building one’s own object drawing on the glass,
terrazzo and metal crafts of the region, made that the aesthetic aspect
of the object be coupled with the delightful user experience of engaging in its construction and sense of ownership.
The jury found this approach right and original, going beyond the
simple DIY kit. This rightness was also found in the balance between a
semantic legacy of local culture and more contemporary codes, far from
any cliché.
Talent Award: Vivian Van Blerk
|
Special Mention to Hala Matta, Namika Atelier, Beirut
|
|
|
|
The Talent Award was inspired this year by the cultural richness generated by the special meeting of Vivian van Blerk,
South African artist who lives and works in Paris, with the Lebanese
ceramist Hala Matta in her workshop (Mexico Street, Clemenceau) in the
heart of Beirut. Vivian was introduced to the practice of ceramics in
this workshop and made these pieces during a residency in summer 2017.
The committee awarded this prize to Vivian van Blerk to salute this
collaboration, and to reward the works presented, a cross between pride
and miniatures endowed with technical and artistic qualities that make
them poetic objects in their own right. The jury extended this prize
with a special mention to Hala Matta
who, through this gesture of openness, exchange, and hospitality,
represents a particularly Lebanese approach that reflects the fertility
of encounters between people and cultures.
The committee chose not to limit itself to the design of functional
objects in the strict sense of the term, and further praised design as
a practice that helps to forge links, generates transfers, and gives
meaning to the creative process.
|
