'future traditions' by lei + christoph + jovana
recent design school graduates zhang lei, christoph john and jovana bogdanovic have collaborated to create
'future traditions', a series of organic and minimalistic objects that are modeled after techniques associated
with traditional yuhang paper umbrella's. on show at salone satelitte at salone del mobile, the collection comes
after an extensive investigation into the techniques and processes of the art form, which disappeared from society
over fifty years ago. for two months, the trio lived and worked with four craftsmen who specialize in the
production of the umbrella's, using their techniques and learning from their experiences. resulting are,
'piao', 'xuan' and 'wu' three new designs that transfer the details, materials and function embedded in the
traditional roots of the craft.
'piao' paper chairs
image © designboom
mimicking the way the paper umbrella's are made, 'piao', features a body made entirely from layers of
glued paper. at once organic and textural, the chair combines square sheets of natural paper until it is strong
enough to sit on. frayed edges created from the loose ends of paper contrast the otherwise smooth and
contoured body and add an additional element of interest.
front
image © designboom
detail of seats
image © designboom
detail of edges
image © designboom
front and back
image © designboom
detail
image © designboom
backs
image © designboom
detail of legs
image courtesy of lei + christoph + jovana
altering the attributes of bamboo is 'xuan', a light that uses finely shredded slices to create a piece with great
form and movement. chaotic but soft in its appearance, the curving pendant begins as a solid branch of
bamboo - a material used for the handle and structural support of paper umbrella's - and quickly unravels into
a storm of fluttering and malleable strings.
'xuan' lamp
image © designboom
detail of shade
image © designboom
detail of shredded bamboo
image © designboom
highly reminiscent of the paper umbrella is 'wu', a lamp that follows that same philosophies and utilizes the
same materials as the traditional umbrella. a bamboo frame is draped with soft and flowing rice paper, that
appears to be slightly blowing in the wind. underneath, an intricate system of undulating supports is exposed
and contrasts both the colors and textures of the thin paper shade.
'wu' lamp
image © designboom
detail of bamboo structure
image © designboom
underside of light
image courtesy of lei + christoph + jovana
overall pendant
image courtesy of lei + christoph + jovana
detail of paper
image courtesy of lei + christoph + jovana
lei + christoph + jovana of innovo design have participated in designboom's curated exhibition 'asia now' at dwell on design
in los angeles in june 2010. see a report here.
the team has also participated in the following designboom competitions:
'imagine the home in 2020' the designboom / electrolux design competition 2005, with their project 'the flavor of sunshine' .
the entry looks at the method of sun-baking clothes which is considered to be a sterile practice in asia.
people think that the smell of the sun-baked clothes has the flavor of sunshine.
the technology of sun-ray simulation is applied in this dryer.
in 2006, 2 of their projects were shortlisted in the designboom competition 'shelter in a cart'.
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