FOKUS: Trash
“Trash is omnipresent, whether it manifests in the form of a Y2K revival, a luxury bag mimicking a crisp packet, or as seen in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. We believe it’s time to take this ambivalent aesthetic phenomenon seriously.”
– Anton Rahlwes & Nina Sieverding (The Thing Magazine), guest curators
In 2024, VIENNA DESIGN WEEK invited the curators Anton Rahlwes & Nina Sieverding (The Thing Magazine) to shape its FOKUS format. The theme they chose for the group exhibition: Trash.
For the third edition of FOKUS, we’re sifting through the trash: “Trash” encompasses a spectrum that oscillates between abstract stylization and material essence. It can manifest as vulgar and ironic, yet also as subtle and cerebral. What’s literal waste to one person, might be material waiting to be used by someone else – or even a meaningful cultural, aesthetic or moral asset.
This year’s edition of FOKUS is looking for collectibles that explore the aesthetic concept of trash and/or, through their materiality or concept, engage with themes such as the circular economy/recycling or experiment with biodegradable materials. Let’s explore what lies at the bottom of our trash cans!
Click here for the complete OPEN CALL. Fill out the form now and become part of the group exhibition!
ABOUT
FOKUS is a curated group exhibition shown in the main festival venue of VIENNA DESIGN WEEK framed by an extraordinary scenography. As one of the festival’s core formats, it receives particular attention from PR and the audience. There are special programme and networking opportunities for designers in attendance.
This format creates an opportunity for participation, especially for young designers from abroad, which is comparatively inexpensive and logistically less complex than a conventional festival participation (such as at PLATFORM). As one of the festival’s core formats, it receives particular attention from PR and the audience.
THE THEME
For the third edition of FOKUS, we’re sifting through the trash: “Trash” encompasses a spectrum that oscillates between abstract stylization and material essence. It can manifest as vulgar and ironic, yet also as subtle and cerebral. What’s literal waste to one person, might be material waiting to be used by someone else – or even a meaningful cultural, aesthetic or moral asset.
This year’s edition of FOKUS is looking for collectibles that explore the aesthetic concept of trash and/or, through their materiality or concept, engage with themes such as the circular economy/recycling or experiment with biodegradable materials. Let’s explore what lies at the bottom of our trash cans!
THE CURATORS
Nina Sieverding is the co-founder and co-editor-in-chief of “the thing Magazine”. She studied Visual Communication and Art History in Braunschweig, and Integrated Design in Bremen. Nina worked as a journalist, copywriter, and graphic designer before joining the editorial department of the renowned magazine “form” in 2019. From 2020 to 2023, she held the position of editor-in-chief at “form” alongside Anton Rahlwes. In 2023, the duo founded the online design magazine “the thing Magazine.” Nina teaches History of Visual Communication at the University of Art and Design in Offenbach/Main.
Anton Rahlwes is a designer, artist, and journalist. He is co-founder of “the thing Magazine.” Prior to this, he worked as co-editor-in-chief of “form” magazine from 2020 to 2023. Furthermore, he co-founded the Berlin-based furniture label OUT – Objekte unserer Tage. Currently, he is studying aesthetic theory at Goethe University in Frankfurt Main and Korea University in Seoul, exploring the interconnectedness of physical artifacts and concepts of masculinities.
THE SCENOGRAPHY
soju.studio is a young design collective from Vienna that focuses on photography, graphic design, web design, moving image and spatial design. At the center of their work is a transdisciplinary self-image that has been expressed in numerous projects since 2019. Can Denzer, Selin Göksu, Julian Lee-Harather, Andreas Rippl and HaNam Tran use a contemporary language in order to constantly subvert it - simplicity meets playful humor and mannerism meets sober classicism, while the boundaries between digital and analog worlds are explored in a new way.
APPLY
Submit here till 31.5.2024!
Cost per accepted piece: € 300,- (excluding shipping)
Jury selection: June 2024
Festival Duration: 20.– 29.9.
(press and opening: 19.9.2024)
For any questions, please contact: fokus@viennadesignweek.at
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