Irish Grab the Spotlight at London Design Festival 2015

By Michelle Hanley
19th Sep 2015

Irish Grab the Spotlight at London Design Festival 2015

Visiting or living in London? Our native makers are taking centre stage at this year’s London Design Festival, which kicks off today. The crux of ID2015’s action plan was?creating a platform?to give Irish designers a chance to show their works at top international design events – and the prestigious LDF?most certainly fits the bill?

The Ogham Wall
Kicking off proceedings is?The Ogham Wall?at the V&A tapestry gallery, created by Grafton Architects and Graphic Relief in one of the most prestigious locations of the festival. Consisting of 23 stone-like “fins” in small groups, each cluster relates to a letter in the ancient alphabet, allowing the visitor to read as they move along the piece. Despite the unorganic, angular nature of the pieces, the letters represented symbolise native Irish trees. The textile quality of the piece, created by a modern process with digital moulding technology (developed by Graphic Relief), draws in the viewer to touch and interact with the work – just like the dolmens of our landscape which they evoke.

V&A

Visitor?information?September 19-27,?The Victoria & Albert Museum, as part of the London Design Festival, London SW7 2RL.

The Souvenir Project
This project comprises nine items that challenge?preconceived ideas of Ireland and the lost importance of souvenirs as a romantic memory trigger for a time and place. Specially commissioned by ID2015 and curated by Jonathan Legge (one half of online homewares store Makers & Brothers), this is a well thought-out and subtle celebration of Irish talent and culture. Highlights include a series of crystal vases by J. Hill’s Standard, with patterns representing the amusing and expressive terms used to describe the different kinds of rainfall, and a spongeware plate from the Nicholas Mosse studio that encapsulates the historic marriage equality referendum.

Visitor?information?September 22-27, Rochelle School, as part of the London Design Festival, London E2 7ES.

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Meaning ?from? in Irish, the title of the exhibition represents our craft heritage and Irish culture, nature and society as a source for inspiration in contemporary craft and design. Expect?furniture from Snug and Donna Bates, ceramics by Andrew Ludick and Arran Street East, glassware by BTU Studio, textiles by 31 Chapel Lane and Ceadog?n, woodwork by Tony Farrell and lighting by Shane Holland Design Workshops.