INTERIOR of the ÚĽUV Design Studio. photo: Courtesy of SCD |
To support and promote Slovak design and to present new design trends from the international and Slovak scenes, the SCD has organised an event entitled Design Days 2002. This series of exhibitions, being presented in various galleries, museums and design studios across the city of Bratislava, will run through the beginning of February.
"The idea behind this 'show of design' was to create a mixture of lectures, exhibitions, commercial presentations and other events and to establish a meeting place for both professionals and the general public," adds Fábri.
COFFEE table by Etela Lučová, created from glass, wicker and metal. photo: Courtesy of SCD |
An artistic couple working in different fields of traditional handicraft will present their works at K Gallery on Ventúrska. While Gabriela Luptáková will exhibit plastics, jewellery boxes and jewellery made from ceramics and found objects, her husband, Jozef Lupták, will display knives.
Originally a sculptor who turned to making artistic knives, Lupták says that he has fulfilled a childhood dream. His knives are not mere replicas of historic objects but original works of art that are created using an old technique that mixes hard and soft steel so the structure of the metal remains visible in the finished blade. The handles are made out of wood, horn, metal and marble, giving the finished product a very refined feel.
JOZEF Lupták's knives... photo: Courtesy of K Gallery |
"Her work is definitely part of modern Slovak design. For instance, for a sofa she uses a very modern metal alloy for the frame and combines it with wicker for the seat, which is a material traditionally used in local handicraft," says Viera Kleinová, the curator of Lučová's exhibition.
The ÚĽUV institution, which unites most of the artists and craftsmen involved in folk art and crafts in Slovakia, will also be participating in Design Days 2002. A veteran among its traditional designers is Jana Menkynová, who has been working in the field for more than 30 years. Together with the Bratislava City Museum, ÚĽUV has prepared a retrospective exhibition of her varied work.
...AND his wife's ceramics. photo: Courtesy of K Gallery |
Even though Slovaks are known to the world mainly for their industrial design, many of Slovak designers who have received international awards have drawn inspiration from the country's handicraft tradition.
Etela Lučová - Furniture and Interior Design. Dizajn štúdio ÚĽUV, Dobrovičova 13. Open Mon-Fri 10:00-18:00 until January 3. Admission free. Tel: 02/5296-4153.
Gabriela and Jozef Lupták - Ceramic Objects and Artistic Knives. K Gallery, Ventúrska 8. Open Mon-Fri 13:00-18:00 until January 6. Admission free. Tel: 02/5443-3927.
Jana Menkynová - Design and Handicraft. Mestské múzeum, Stará radnica (City museum, Old Town Hall), Primaciálne nám. 3. Open Tue-Fri 10:00-17:00, Sat-Sun 11:00-18:00 until February 2. Admission: Sk30. Tel: 02/5443-4742.
For more information and a catalogue contact Slovenské centrum dizajnu (Slovak Design Centre) at Jakubovo nám. 12. Tel: 02/5293-1523.
