Weathering — ROJI

Weathering / TENT London / London Design Festival 2014
Client: Design & Crafts Council of Ireland
Role: Curator & Exhibition Designer

Overview

Weathering, an exhibition of contemporary Irish design and craft, built on the narrative of DCCoI’s previous shows - Vernacular (LDF 13) and A Place to Gather (LDF 12) - presenting the work of approximately 25 Irish designers in furniture, wood, glass, ceramics, textiles, lighting and basketry.

Originally exhibited at TENT London (LDF14) it was modified and relocated for UCCA Beijing to be part of the 2014 Irish Presidential visit to China.

I am delighted to be here today at the Weathering Exhibition, to not only celebrate the beautiful work on display in this gallery, but to recognise and pay tribute to the many talented Irish designers and craftworkers who enhance our reputation across the globe as a nation renowned for creativity and artistic achievement.

Michael D. Higgins, President of Ireland
Weathering Exhibition / UCCA Gallery / Beijing

Exhibition Text

Weathering, and the stripping back of excess, can be seen as the slow process makers undergo to unearth and express an object’s essence, revealing its true potential and natural beauty. Each revelation is a development in the story that emerges from the initial exchanges between maker, object, material and landscape.

Irish craft, by virtue of its quality, is durable and usable. Over time, the user can develop a fuller appreciation and understanding of the object. In many cases, the actual colours and shapes of the objects change, moulding themselves to their user, while the user adapts their habits to the object.

The exhibition design for Weathering investigates layering in terms of use. The linen screens, which add an element of discovery while allowing for smaller curated groups, have been constructed out of screen-printing frames, intended to be reused as such in the future. The understated plinths, simply slotted together, can be easily disassembled, transported and stored, ready for subsequent use.

The ambition behind the design of Weathering is to create an exhibition which, like the objects it contains, will evolve over time and have lasting value. It promotes design that fulfils the requirements of the present, while considering how it can meaningfully contribute to the future.

Steven McNamara
Curator & Exhibition Designer

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