TOTEMISM: Memphis Meets Africa at Design Indaba Expo
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For Design Indaba, Edelkoort channeled a bit of Italian master Ettore Sotsass who declared that "Memphis is everywhere and for everyone." Edelkoort highlighted that Sottsass often referred to the movement itself as being "like a hard drug"—a phenomena that one could not take too much of. It remains to be seen what long term impact an overdose of Memphis elements, like colorfully patterned laminates, printed glass surfaces, loud celluloid, and sculptural neon tubes will have on design. Thirty years on, one can only be reminded of Memphis's unprecedented energy when discovering South Africa's design talent.
Photo by: Riccardo Pugliese -
"Since 1994, young South African designers and decorators set out to create an African style using contemporary elements mixed with folkloric and iconic aspects such as spears, zebra, wooden masks, and stools. Bars, restaurants, and early boutique hotels invented this first funky South African design language. However, that movement was quickly saturated and the design community turned to craft and textiles instead. These trends developed in a great outpour of rustic and organic style, including architecture, design and food, celebrating the well-being of South African life." –Li Edeelkoort
Photo by: Riccardo Pugliese -
The TOTEMISM exhibition highlighted a spectrum of local South African designers and artisans. Particular attention was paid to regional textile patterns, as well as the palettes of "shantytown colors." The discordant clash of Memphis style kitchen laminates and exaggerated teapots came to life once again in ways that seem de rigueur in a community used to resourceful improvisation and the re-invention of simple merchandise. The emblematic might be concealed in the language of the everyday or in irreverent combinations that evoke magical realism. This is why South African makers are so unselfconsciously avant-garde.
Photo by: Riccardo Pugliese -
The Hybrid Totem by Nawaaz celebrates the luxe handcraft of South Africa married with a totemic stacking system reminiscent of The Carleton Cabinet by Memphis designer Ettore Sotsass, as well as John Male's stacked glass lights recycled from eBay (a.k.a. the Rebay project) during London Design Week in September 2012.
Photo by: Riccardo Pugliese -
“The process of inviting designers to submit works through the Internet has led to many new and exciting discoveries. The exhibition at Design Indaba Expo included approximately seventy creations, including the hybrid totems of Nawaaz, original graphics by Kristen Morkel, coloured vases by Clementina van der Walt, and a curious still life landscape by Anja de Klerk.” -Li Edeelkoort
Photo by: Riccardo Pugliese -
Designs by South African ceramicist Clementina van der Walt demonstrate objects with soul. Edeelkoort made a point of including both "rich and poor" materials in the designs selected for TOTEMISM. On some level, this differentiates the African version of Memphis from the original movement due to the incorporation of natural and sustainable materials, including local fiber, vegetation, as well as recycled aluminum and metals that are discarded and then find new life. This reference to South African 'potjie culture' (the region's utilitarian cast-iron cooking pot) is emblematic of the blending of the many influences and motifs that make up African style.
Photo by: Riccardo Pugliese -
"Foreign visitors were amazed by the sophistication and taste demonstrated by local designers even with simple merchandise. The booth structure of Totemism represented the feel of a shantytown stand, which reinforced its creative and improvised character; visitors found the idea refreshing in times of economic duress.The exhibition/project was much talked about." –Li Edeelkoort's team at Design Indaba
Photo by: Riccardo Pugliese -
'TOTEMISM: Memphis meets Africa' was curated by Lidewij Edelkoort and produced with the support of Woolworths, Interactive Africa, and Design Indaba Expo. The event took place in Cape Town from March 1–3, 2013. More information is available at Design Indaba Expo.
Photo by: Riccardo Pugliese
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