New collection from ege celebrates the World Exhibitions
While the attention of the world points toward the World Exhibition, opening in Shanghai on May 1st, ege has concentrated on the worlds historical and cultural development since the first World Exhibition in London in 1851. The result is a unique carpet collection focusing on the World Exhibition through times.
Interpretation of World Exhibitions through times Design Sport WORLD EXPO by ege is an interpretation of 8 especially selected World Exhibitions. From the strict Victorian times in the 1850’s to the social conscious and sustainable tendencies in 2010. The collection is developed by Designer Karen Lund Hansen and Designer Helle Lykke Jensen, based on comprehensive research. “Through 160 years the changing World Exhibitions have been galleries for technological, industrial and cultural development. A picture of the time-spirit and human’s ambitions, thoughts and dreams”, Karen Lund Hansen tells. “From the dawn of industrialisation till today the World Exhibitions have brought people together across cultures to share knowledge, be inspired and learn from each other”. The world history on carpets The collection presents 8 eye catching designs. The inspiration for these has been found in the selected World Exhibitions and the architecture, design, colours and patterns of that age. “The inspiration for ‘Paris 1889’ is found in the complex construction of the Eifel Tower”, Helle Lykke Jensen explains, “and the design in ‘Brussels 1958’ originates from the main attraction of the Brussels exhibition – the 102 meter high monument ‘Atomium’, whereas ‘Sevilla 1992’ is about the ethnic influence in design and fashion of the 90’s. The collection is launched with a catalogue describing the chosen World Exhibitions and the age they were a part of in written words and pictures, as well as presenting the new designs which in their own unique ways visualise the essence of the exhibitions and their age. Helle Lykke Jensen leafs through the catalogue, reflecting about the choice of World Exhibitions for the collection. “We have chosen to focus on 8 exhibitions with special significance. The first one with Crystal Palace in 1851 of course, and this year’s exhibition in Shanghai are self-evident, and Montreal 1967 for example is chosen because it has been the most successful World Exhibition till now and because it was an exhibition focusing on both material and immaterial values”. Third Design Spot collection WORLD EXPO is a part of the unique Design Spot concept, where ege continually presents collections based on great interest of the moment fashion, trends, art or culture. Previously ege has launched ‘Tribal Poetry’ inspired by tribal cultures, and ‘On the move* which is about the constant movement of the city. Common for the three collections is that they are concentrated on the narrow more than the general. WORLD EXPO is the first Design Spot collection focusing on a world event. “It has been an interesting process starting with immersion in historical details about the different World Exhibitions and then continued by transforming this into carpet designs”, Karen Lund Hansen explains. She hopes the WORLD EXPO collection will contribute to bringing focus on the World Exhibition in Shanghai and the idea of meeting across nations and cultures with innovation and development in mind.
Tags:
