5th April 2023

April news: Norway makes its presence felt in Milan, and a peek inside British Pavilion at this year’s Venice Biennale

Bench-pressing with Lars Beller Fjetland and Hydro; HØLTE helps out at HWNS; and Adam Nathaniel Furman’s massive mosaic mural takes shape

Exhibition design and styling by Kråkvik & D’Orazio and Bjørn van den Berg. Graphic design by Bielke&Yang. Photography by Magnus Nordstrand.

Norwegian Presence
Norway’s flagship Salone show ready for lift-off

Milan is just around the corner, which means Norwegian Presence is set to share the best and brightest of the Norwegian scene with the world.

In the heart of Brera Design District, on Via Pietro Marconcelli, a beautiful new venue is providing a new home for the one-of-a-kind exhibition. Expect pioneering approaches to sourcing local materials, fresh takes on reuse and low-waste, ingenious problem solving and idiosyncratic craftsmanship. Get ready to meet new talent, follow the trajectory of inspiring designers and encounter manufacturers committed to sustainable production.

Until it all kicks off on the 18th, get a sneak peek on Instagram.

Dancing Before the Moon, identity and visuals by TEMPLO.

Dancing Before the Moon
British Pavilion to celebrate everyday rituals at La Biennale 2023

The news is out! The quartet of curators for the British Pavilion at Venice Biennale have lifted the lid on their plans for this year’s show. Jayden Ali, Joseph Henry, Meneesha Kellay and Sumitra Upham will be exploring everyday rituals from cooking to dancing, through a series of installations by UK-based artists and architects, supported by soundscape and film.

Titled Dancing Before the Moon, the show will consider how rituals serve as tools for diasporic communities to establish spaces and present new ways of thinking about architecture and the built environment. Inside the pavilion, a collection of objects created by UK artists Yussef Agbo-Ola, Mac Collins, Shawanda Corbett, Madhav Kidao and Sandra Poulson will represent cultural practices and their impact on space.

Get in touch to learn more.

Work-in-progress shot from site visit to A Thousand Streams.

Adam Nathaniel Furman
A Thousand Streams flows into London Bridge

Taking shape on London Bridge right now, A Thousand Streams is a vibrant and striking 57-metre mosaic mural set to elevate the streetscape. Celebrating themes of craft, community, context and diversity, the project represents a truly inspiring meeting of minds between educational charity the London School of Mosaic (LSoM) and London-based artist Adam Nathaniel Furman. The title references the site as a literal and symbolic gateway into London, as well as wider themes of community involvement.

Find out more from Adam on Instagram.

Bello! can be custom-made to any length and in numerous colours, making it suited for any setting, indoors or out.

Hydro at Milan 2023
Lars Beller Fjetland and Hydro debut infinitely recyclable aluminium bench

Launching at Norwegian Presence, Bello! is the first product collaboration between one of the contemporary greats of Norwegian design – Lars Beller Fjetland – and the country’s leading specialist in renewable energy and low-carbon aluminium – Hydro. Inspired by the process of pasta-making, Bello! is a versatile indoor-outdoor seating system created from ~90% post-consumer aluminium using a process of extrusion. The result is a beautifully tactile and highly durable bench that is fully recyclable at end-of-life. Another Norwegian win for the circular economy.

Read the full press release here.

Image courtesy of Bisila Noha.

Bisila Noha
On show at Unit London until this Thursday!

Equal parts artist and activist, Bisila Noha creates ceramic pieces that bring together the deep historical context of clay with a contemporary emphasis on social justice and identity. You can catch her work alongside 11 other extraordinary artists at Unit Gallery in London, as part of Within + Without.

The exhibition is an extension of Ferren Gipson’s research for her book, Women’s Work, with each project celebrating the continuing legacy of modern and contemporary women artists working in textiles and ceramics.

More info on the show here – but be quick, it wraps up tomorrow!

HØLTE x Hackney Night Shelter
We called, you answered

When the Hackney Night Shelter needed to double their space to meet growing needs, we joined with many others in raising awareness and calling for support. The response was a heartwarming confirmation of all that the design community can achieve when we pull together. Shout out to HØLTE for providing this beautiful kitchen cabinetry. Now, the residents and volunteers will be able to share a cuppa for years to come. The simple things matter.

Have an idea of how you might be able to help? Reply to this newsletter to let us know!