Imagined — fantasy and uncertainty
Somewhere between shifting work from the studio to our apartment and taking stock of beans, we played what if -
What if we came together as contemporaries from all corners of the world and used our work as a medium to facilitate a global community group, share stories, create and connect with our audience, together?
Imagined, for uncertain times, is a virtual gallery showcase imagined and self-produced by 11 independent design studios from 9 countries. Born out of an idea for creators to share in both hope and pain at the time of a global pandemic, the show explores dual themes of ‘imagining unbound’ and ‘uncertainty’ through the distinct lens of each participating studio.
Utharaa Zacharias & Palaash Chaudhary of furniture design studio soft-geometry initially conceived the idea while in lockdown in California and wrote nervously to a dream list of designers they were inspired by, but had never met or even spoken to. The responses were surprisingly affirmative and heart-warming - exchanged stories of challenges, loss, determination, and hope in the opportunity to come together, offer support, and create.
With conventional design weeks and tradeshows being effectively cancelled both designers and the audience are missing out on the important cultural fabric that the exhibitions provide. Imagined, hopes to fill a small part of the void by presenting a model vision for creative collaboration, mutual support within the design community and an opportunity to engage with a distanced audience.
While curating the show, Zacharias and Chaudhary looked to artists who skillfully traversed between real and fantasy, who pushed the extent of possibilities in terms of material, forms, craft, process and feeling. The collaboration first took wings with Nicolás Cañellas of SPOT Studio, Barcelona who partnered on the art direction and creation of the imagined gallery. The roster of 11 independant studios are:
Eimear Ryan, Argot Studio / Paris, FRANCE
Laurids Gallee / Rotterdam, NETHERLANDS - Vienna, AUSTRIA
Lea Mestres / Paris, FRANCE
Benjamin Gillespie, Ovuud / Philadelphia, USA
Serban Ionescu / Brooklyn, USA
Utharaa Zacharias & Palaash Chaudhary, soft-geometry / San Jose, USA - Kochi, INDIA
Merle Flügge & Job Mouwen, Supertoys Supertoys / Rotterdam, NETHERLANDS
Adam & Mark, VIDIVIXI / Mexico City, MEXICO
Andreas & Steve, Voukenas Petrides / New York, USA - Athens, GREECE
Yeon JinYoung / Seoul, S KOREA
Nicolás Cañellas, SPOT Studio / Barcelona, SPAIN
Curated by - Utharaa L Zacharias & Palaash Chaudhary, soft-geometry
Art direction & 3D visualization - Nicolás Cañelas, SPOT Studio
Media Parteners -Husk Design Blog | The Design Release
This project started with a letter between artists and a question “what if...? “
Write a letter to share your thoughts, ask questions or collaborate.*
*Bread recipies are fine too.