Where Design Works . . . Camac Design is a company set up to build links between new designers entering the creative industries, & the professionals already in it. We organise competitions and exhibitions to help that along. The aim of this blog is to discover, to notice and to discuss things that could be inspirational to those interested in the design world.
Thursday 20 September 2012
Helping Students into industry - CAMAC Design announce Winners of the 4th Annual Student Wallpaper Design Competition
Today is your last chance to see the show at the Imago!
The Exhibition includes 28 selected Student entries from a total of over 80 submissions. Their brief was to take inspiration from great British Architect Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin in the year marking the bicentenary of his birth.The Prizes . . . .
Prizes were awarded at the Imago Gallery, Mayfair, on the opening nights of the Competition Exhibition last week. See the work of the Winners of the 2012 Annual Student Wallpaper Design Competition as well as all the finalists * work by guest artists and designers.
The Zoffany work placement was awarded by Peter Gomez to Rachel Parker from Norwich for her work which they said showed . . .
“A colourful exploration of the relationship between pattern and space…”
Michelle Ledward, Head of R&D & Nina Tayor Design Director at Graham & Brown awarded a work placement to to Natasha Markham from Leeds for her work
“…marking Gothic design at St John the evangelist Catholic Church, Oxford…’
Anstey Wallpapers gave a work placement, awarded by Clare Howlett, Design Studio Manager to Joel Wilson from Leeds “A Futuristic archegram…”
The Timorous Beasties work placement was awarded to Emma Jane Sowerby from Leeds
“A botanical tribute inspired by Pugin’s furniture at Lotherton Hall, Leeds…”
The Pugin Society Award was presented by Ralph Bowmaker and Judith Al-Saffar to Stephanie Rostron from Leeds
“… inspired by Pugin’s eagle lectern at St Giles Catholic Church, Cheadle…”
2nd Place went to – Li Shan Chong from LCC & 3rd Place to Fergus Dowling from Leeds with a Special Mention for Emma Michelle Williams from LCC, & her amazing sketchbooks
The Winner of the Wallpaper History Society Award was Rosie Stride from Leeds, presented by Matthew Meadows and Robert Weston
“… a Gothic ‘indulgence’ paying homage to artist Bridget Riley and weaver Alastair Morton – ideal for architectural open-plan spaces…”
2nd Place – Eppie Greenhalgh – LCC
3rd Place – Elizabeth Smith – Leeds
Well done everyone!!!!
Wednesday 19 September 2012
The show at the Imago is on the WGSN Blog
The show at the Imago is on the WGSN Blog . . . Follow this link.
Thursday 13 September 2012
Corpus Cutis at the Imago
Corpus Cutis (Artists / Designers Esther Smith & Sue Westergaard) are showing two pieces with us at the Imago Gallery, Clifford Steet, Mayfair.
As this years competition was based on Pugin,
As this years competition was based on Pugin,
it being his bicentenary, they decided to create pieces that built on their artistic concerns, but bring in pertinent aspects of Pugins philosophy & design ideas; things like the structure of the patterns they have created for these 'garments' are reminiscent of his, but they also thought about the society that he lived in & his belief that peoples lives could be improved by good design, by having 'beauty' in their lives.
Corpus Cutis say 'We know that the average life expectancy in the mid to late victorian era was around 40 (Pugin himself died around that age), & that huge rafts of people had only the clothes they stood up in & worked incredibly long hours in terrible conditions. That's the sort of thing that was in the backs of our minds when we were making this work'.
The garments they have created aren't made to wear. They fit into a space between Fine Art & design. The fabrics are covered in pattern based on Pugin, but created from images of skin, blemishes & disease. They have an ethereal beauty but are also slightly stomach churning.
See them at the Imago until the 20th September
Photos by Sue Westergaard
Block printed wallpapers - Duncan Harrison, Matthew Meadows, Mark Amura & Pugin!
Designer Duncan Harrison, who also lectures at Leeds College of Art, created these pieces using the very traditional process of making wallpapers - block printing. He had 3 huge wooden blocks made, the full width of the Wallpaper & printed them in the traditional way.
These images hardly do them justice - the pieces in the flesh are so rich in texture & colour - a wonderful quality & sort of glow that you cannot get any other way than by using those materials & that process.
They are in the same room as the original Pugin Block, & Pugins historic wallpapers printed from it. It is incredible to see them - the colour is so intense, so contemporary.
In the same space at the Imago is Matthew Meadows vibrant red & green hand printed wallpaper. He too is a block printer & his piece has such an intensity of colour because of the medium, & his complete skill in using it.
Mark Amura printed his metallic gold & red wallpaper using polystyrene blocks - a beautiful piece made using such an innovative process with everyday materials.
Images of the other pieces to follow - but for the time being here is a taster of Duncan Harrison's work. Do come and see it in real life. The show is on at the Imago Gallery until September 20th as part of the London Design Festival
These images hardly do them justice - the pieces in the flesh are so rich in texture & colour - a wonderful quality & sort of glow that you cannot get any other way than by using those materials & that process.
They are in the same room as the original Pugin Block, & Pugins historic wallpapers printed from it. It is incredible to see them - the colour is so intense, so contemporary.
In the same space at the Imago is Matthew Meadows vibrant red & green hand printed wallpaper. He too is a block printer & his piece has such an intensity of colour because of the medium, & his complete skill in using it.
Mark Amura printed his metallic gold & red wallpaper using polystyrene blocks - a beautiful piece made using such an innovative process with everyday materials.
Images of the other pieces to follow - but for the time being here is a taster of Duncan Harrison's work. Do come and see it in real life. The show is on at the Imago Gallery until September 20th as part of the London Design Festival
Tuesday 11 September 2012
The Imago Gallery - Les Bicknell's windows
Les Bicknell has created site specific pieces for the windows of our Imago Gallery show.
Les says about the work . . .
'Whilst researching Pugin in the V&A’s study rooms a
catalogue of designs for furniture and
fittings in the gothic revival style became a starting point for an exploration
of the repeat within Pugin’s work and the creation
of excessive digital book objects.
The sculptural forms are derived from examining the book
form. The work explores the idea of form as a content and manipulation as the
narrative. The bookworks are positioned conceptually and physically between and
within the idea of both sculpture and book. The hybrid nature of the pieces
finds its roots in both forms – exploring and challenging both genres.'
Les Bicknell is an artist & also lectures at Norwich University College of the Arts.
Monday 10 September 2012
Setting up the Exhibition at the Imago Gallery in Mayfair
Today the Exhibition starts to go up . . . Exciting . . . !!!
Mark Amura & Emily Charman (both previous finalists in the competition which was run for the Wallpaper History Society, & is the pre-cursor of the Camac Competition) are there as we blog, working hard for Camac to make the exhibition perfect.
It's so important to make the most of the work by both students & all the invited artists . . . to show it to it's full potential.
Both Emily & Mark will be showing their work with us at the Imago this year.
Emily is now at the Royal College of Art. She is showing the work she has made one year on from being a finalist in the WHS competition, last summer.
Here she is with textile pieces that co-ordinated with her prize winning work. Can't wait to see what she will be showing one year on.
Mark has gone on to work on the Foundation Course at Morley College, as well as freelancing as a designer. He is curating this years Camac exhibition.
After winning the Wallpaper History Society competition with his designs on the theme of 'Baroque with a Twist' he went on to do an internship including working at Anstey, discovering how luxury wall coverings are printed, & really used that experience to inform his own work. Below is his one of his designs from his 2011 Pearly Kings & Queens collection.
Both of them created several entries for the Virtual Wallpaper Challenge . . . take a look at their work, & the other entries on . . .
http://camacdesign.com/wallpapers/galleriffic-2.0/gallery.html#15
Mark Amura & Emily Charman (both previous finalists in the competition which was run for the Wallpaper History Society, & is the pre-cursor of the Camac Competition) are there as we blog, working hard for Camac to make the exhibition perfect.
It's so important to make the most of the work by both students & all the invited artists . . . to show it to it's full potential.
Both Emily & Mark will be showing their work with us at the Imago this year.
Emily is now at the Royal College of Art. She is showing the work she has made one year on from being a finalist in the WHS competition, last summer.
Here she is with textile pieces that co-ordinated with her prize winning work. Can't wait to see what she will be showing one year on.
Mark has gone on to work on the Foundation Course at Morley College, as well as freelancing as a designer. He is curating this years Camac exhibition.
After winning the Wallpaper History Society competition with his designs on the theme of 'Baroque with a Twist' he went on to do an internship including working at Anstey, discovering how luxury wall coverings are printed, & really used that experience to inform his own work. Below is his one of his designs from his 2011 Pearly Kings & Queens collection.
Both of them created several entries for the Virtual Wallpaper Challenge . . . take a look at their work, & the other entries on . . .
http://camacdesign.com/wallpapers/galleriffic-2.0/gallery.html#15
Friday 7 September 2012
STUDY DAYS AT THE IMAGO
We are holding some exciting Study Days at the Imago on the 14th & 15th September with professional designers talking about their work & careers - -
The prices are £25 per half day session, or £40 for a full day
For details please follow this link . . .
Tuesday 4 September 2012
Louise Tiler showing with us at the Imago Gallery
Louise Tiler was one of last years finalists. She will be showing with us at the Imago Gallery 'one year on' & doing a talk about her first year out on one of our student study days (more info to follow)
Check out her beautiful work on her website . . .http://www.louisetiler.com/
Check out her beautiful work on her website . . .http://www.louisetiler.com/
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