Art and Artisan Traditions
Spain for Design reached out to three artists who were among the first to be profiled on these pages. Speedy, the new work by renowned Spanish artist Felipao, the artistic name of Felipe Garcia-Bañon Sanz-Briz, has its basis in Chinese mythological traditions and his reflections about life under COVID-19. Last year, I was in the process…
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In collaboration with the Francisco Alcántara School of Art of Ceramics, the National Museum of Decorative Arts in Madrid has organized an exhibition that features the 2018-2019 students’ final projects. The exhibition celebrates the centenary of the influential early-twentieth-century Bauhaus style and the survival of its pedagogical model. The exhibition is part of the museums’ Design and Pedagogy…
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“I cannot think in a way that separates shapes and colour. The patterns I create are an exaltation of this ‘partnership’ between shapes and colours.” Based in Madrid, Argentina–born Federico Antelo Granero has quickly established himself among the premier textile artisans in his adopted country. With a background in painting, his pieces are remarkable for…
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The fourth edition of the Madrid Design Festival 21 (MDF21) took place in February and March. The only festival in Spain that brings together all design disciplines, there were 183 activities, 58 exhibitions, and the participation of more than 500 designers and 72 institutions from the world of design, art, and culture. Organized by Madrid-based cultural promoter La…
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“SACo’s genesis arises from the experience of a group of artisan firms in Spain that sensed the need to come together to improve their exposure and commercialization capacity inside and, especially, outside Spain. As an organization, we will promote artisans that create contemporary designs, who make their products mainly by hand with a high level…
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“I am the daughter of a family of sushi chefs in Tokyo. I have been taught the importance of tableware since childhood and that it must be enjoyed with all five senses, First, with the look, the composition, the relationship of the plate with the food. Since then, I have always liked porcelain. My grandfather…
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Before the confinement due to COVID 19, online shopping was growing in popularity during the holiday season. It has become essential for many businesses during the pandemic and led to an increase in the number of e-commerce websites. Although the virtual experience does not have the sensory delights that many find to be the most…
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I recently saw an interview with renowned French decorator Jacques García who, speaking about his maximalist design tendencies, surmised that minimalism is easy if one has nothing in one’s head, but difficult to achieve if it is full. Far from being the former, the minimalist designs of Madrid-based studio Mayice Studio is a complex interplay…
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“Before I began to work with wood in 2000, I did a bit of everything. I studied fashion design at the Polytechnic University of Madrid. I designed for others, sold insurance, sold underwear, was a gas station attendant, ran a family car washing and mechanics business, activities that led me to slow down, to take…
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The Spanish expression de toda la vida is one I have recently come to know and appreciate. It can refer to something familiar, something that has not changed; maybe a friend, a situation, an object, a recipe, a tradition, or that little shop around the corner. I do not think there is an equivalent in the English…
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Ana Hernández and Christophe Penasse, co-founders of Valencia-based studio Masquespacio, have launched several new pieces to add to the collections of their new brand Mas Creations. Block Chairs is a family of dining chairs that is notable for its particular form, contrast of materials, and color. Composed of marble, stainless steel, wood, velvet fabrics, it…
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With over 50 years in the industry, Oviedo-born José Santamarina Laviada, the co-founder of Santamarina Diseñadores, is a reference in the field of graphic art in Spain. Throughout his career, he has designed graphic and logo design, brand identity, signage, brochures, books, packaging, and illustration. From 1961 to 1963, he worked as a teacher at…
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