DESIGN
DESIGN THE NEW MODERN CONTEMPORARY INTERIOR DESIGN WOULDN’T BE WHAT IS IS TODAY WITHOUT THE INFLUENCE OF MODERNISM, the cultural movement of the late 19th and 20th centuries that led artists to break traditional form, experimenting with lighter and more minimalist design. This period gifted us with an astonishing output of furniture, products, films, books and interiors that have come to epitomize the enduring, mid-century modern style that is still sought after today. But what does the next generation of designers look like? Who will continue the tradition of radical and outspoken but tasteful design in the years to come? We take a look at some of the most inspired creators currently storming the international stage in search of the talents who are poised to become the design world’s next-century modernists. WORDS: Henrietta Thompson PHOTOGRAPHY: © PETR KREJČÍ 44 THE JAGUAR
STUDIO SWINE JAPAN/ENGLAND SWINE, in this case, stands for Super Wide Interdisciplinary New Explorers, and that’s exactly what this design duo do. Co-founded by Japanese architect Azusa Murakami and English artist Alexander Groves, this husband and wife team design like few others. Their purposeful new direction for design and creativity is not so much about making beautiful things (thoughly they also do that), as it is about questioning how the world really functions, using innovative and highly resourceful processes and materials such as human hair, melted tin cans and sea-dredged plastic to create art works, films and luxury products with a thought-provoking twist. Pictured here and left are their celebrated Fordlandia chairs, made from materials like vulcanized Amazonian rubber, sulfur and linseed oil. THE JAGUAR 45