Porcelain and humor are the main ingredients for the clever-quirky objects of acclaimed designer Maxim Velcovsky. Nice to see he has not lost the latter. Spinning off ideas from beliefs and misbeliefs reigning in the communist era of his childhood country he extracts the favorite Czech heritage, porcelain, from its past with a twist. He lets common sausage trays star in subtle elegance. Some of the designer's table wear are a clear invitation to try and crack the mystery behind his (country's famous) dark humor that could be described best as a mix between a conundrum and an equation: On an immaculate white plate garnished with "Zwiebelmuster"(onion patterns), essential to the traditional Czech porcelain decoration, there lies a delicate, broken swan's head.
Listen to Velcovsky in the Design Indaba's Speaker video series
http://www.designindaba.com/speaker/video/maxim-velčovský-part-2-6
Next Design Indaba Expo and Show coming up in February 2001 in Cape Town.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
South Africa's private public business
Concerns about the infringement of press freedom in South Africa were being voiced after the arrest of a Sunday Times journalist who uncovered a dodgy property deal signed off by a police official. The documents were forged so the story goes. The police, yet again, felt unfairly stepped on its toes.
The government, especially the president who certainly has not enjoyed being scrutinized in public about his private life and many wives, rather than encouraging a constructive debate, has threatened with 25 years of prison for cheeky members of press.
Observations are made that the current government seems to use censorship rules applied during the apartheid regime. Why would the government of a New South Africa go back to a cruel past? Do the successors of the great Madiba, who sacrified his life for a better future for his family, the nation, are just trying to get a free high on the trust and power he has earned by endurance and education?
The latter values will without a doubt outlast the instant glory of an event like the World Cup. Bad news like punishing the press for acting as a watchdog will easily diminish the reputation of a country which a few months ago was proud to show the world what it can do. Good.
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/south-africa/100824/press-freedom-under-threat?page=0,1
The government, especially the president who certainly has not enjoyed being scrutinized in public about his private life and many wives, rather than encouraging a constructive debate, has threatened with 25 years of prison for cheeky members of press.
Observations are made that the current government seems to use censorship rules applied during the apartheid regime. Why would the government of a New South Africa go back to a cruel past? Do the successors of the great Madiba, who sacrified his life for a better future for his family, the nation, are just trying to get a free high on the trust and power he has earned by endurance and education?
The latter values will without a doubt outlast the instant glory of an event like the World Cup. Bad news like punishing the press for acting as a watchdog will easily diminish the reputation of a country which a few months ago was proud to show the world what it can do. Good.
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/south-africa/100824/press-freedom-under-threat?page=0,1
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