Polish design was presented at the Seoul International Handmade Fair. The exhibition It’s a Polish Thing. New Design from Polska was an attempt to challenge the vision of Poland, which is internationally recognised as one of the biggest producers of furniture and interior design, but still known rather for the quantity and availability of products rather than the quality of design.
All 56 objects presented at the exhibition were everyday objects: china and glass vessels, lamps made from paper, recycled materials and wood, decorative textiles, toys. Designed by different designers, what these objects have in common is a simple form, a careful selection of materials, happy colours, and a sense of humour. The objects in the exhibit were designed by 20 designers born in the 1980s. They are a generation of self-directed designers who follow very different professional paths in the world of design. Many work with big corporations, producers of furniture, textiles and ceramics, both in Poland, Europe, and Asia. Others do not want to work for the industry and find a market niche as self-employed professionals by following their personal needs and temperaments in their practice. They move well beyond the standard roles and functions of designers: they not only design and manufacture objects but also develop brands, strategies and distribution methods. Others still rediscover long-forgotten icons of 20th century Polish design to reinterpret them or to relaunch original designs based on new technology.
KAFTI presented in this exhibition BERGA and ALIEN lamps.
