24 Nov 06 - 5 Jan 2007

Conversational Spanish includes the work of 15 creative designers, two photographers and a filmmaker. The exhibition is the second of a two-part collaboration between The Aram Gallery and the Spanish Embassy exploring new Spanish design. Conversational Spanish introduces a number of new faces together with more established designers from the increasingly vibrant contemporary design-scape that includes Barcelona, Madrid and Valencia.

The exhibition spotlights one of the most basic elements in the nature of the way designers work: which is that engaging with experimental ideas is inextricably linked to generating original commercial products. The designers in this show are linked by the playful experimental nature of their design process and by the fact that they have at least one manufactured product available on the market. The pieces in this show are highlights from these designers current practice.

What is Spanish about this collection of designs?
The selections were made with a focus on designs that offer insight into the way designers think – some explore and interpret traditional artifacts, some propose new typologies while others try out new materials, alternative ways of production or suggestions for new ways of using known types of products. This is much the same for other designers around the world currently working with an increasing awareness and ambition to be part of the global market. Whether there is anything particularly Spanish about their work is left out of the start of this conversation but may spark off after seeing all the work together.

The communication of new design ideas takes the form of prototypes and in the case of some of these designers it is supported also by photographic storytelling. This imagery, co-authored by the designer and the photographers, explores the design concepts with the aid of fictional characters and offers up a way of interpreting the relationship of people to objects.

The exhibition, curated by Daniel Charny and designed by Hector Serrano, is a mix of commercially produced and experimental or proposed designs. The manufactured objects are produced by 12 companies that work in plastic, wire, rubber, metal, fabric, glass and with a variety of technologies. All these companies have supported the translation from experimentation to production. The rest of the pieces come directly from the designers’ studios presented here with the hope of setting off a dialogue with curious producers.

The Aram Gallery thanks the Spanish Embassy in London, the supporting companies and Origin for the collaboration involved in bringing Conversational Spanish to London.

November 2006
Curator, Daniel Charny

Exhibition design and production, Hector Serrano

Gallery Director, Zeev Aram

THE EXHIBITION INCLUDES THE WORK OF

Ariadna Miquel
Martin Azúa / Gerard Moliné
Azzimonti-Pigem
Brosmind
CuldeSac
Curro Claret
Díez+Díez Diseño
Emiliana Design Studio
(Ana Mir + Emili Padrós)
Racky Martinez
Jordi Llopis
Juanico
Luis Eslava
Mocho
Serrano
Quique Corrales

THE EXHIBITION IS SUPPORTED BY

ICEX
The Cha Cha Original
ALPUJARREÑA
Lladro
bonestil
ABR
metalarte
cosmic
B Sign
Faces
marset
Fabrica
Gallery H20
Ritmonia
Miscellania
Casamania
nanimarquina