A leading supporter of design-driven economic growth, Southern Guild is putting the spotlight on the continent with GUILD, Africa’s only international design fair in Cape Town from 25 February to 1 March at the Lookout, V&A Waterfront, sponsored by Absa Private Banking.
“The revenue stream for South African design exports has been growing year on year. At a time of recession, when other categories may be in decline, this is a remarkable movement and one we want to propel,” says Trevyn McGowan, who co-founded Southern Guild with her husband Julian.
South African design earned a huge boost with the hosting of World Design Capital in Cape Town last year and Southern Guild, having long showcased the quality, craftsmanship and ground-breaking vision of the local industry, is making the continuation of GUILD a true legacy for the WDC year.
Exhibiting contemporary South African design at its Cape Town gallery and at international events, Southern Guild are now regulars at leading global fairs like Design Miami, Collective and Design Days Dubai with a spectacular following. At Design Days Dubai 2014, for example, Southern Guild represented an unprecedented 12% of total sales and Trevyn and Julian earned a place on Art and Auction’s Power 100 list 2013.
“The waves we are making internationally in such a short time are outstanding, especially for a country with a young industry,” says McGowan.
“Our focus is to tell a new story of Africa, to bring fresh, provoking, unexpected work to the world’s stage and to encourage our designers to investigate their own identities,” she says.
Producing bespoke, limited edition design that will premiere at GUILD, African and international design heavyweights have linked up exclusively for the fair.
The ‘epitome of cool’, Los Angeles-based The Haas Brothers have been travelling back and forth to South Africa producing an important new collection in collaboration with South Africa’s Monkeybiz. Premiering at GUILD, ‘Afreaks’ follows The Haas Brothers’ latest exhibition with R & Company in New York, which recorded the largest opening night in their gallery’s history.
Amsterdam-based designer Frederik Molenschot will present a handcrafted woven installation with Swaziland’s Gone Rural, exploring how cities sleep at night. Peter Mabeo from Botswana will exhibit human nests, in collaboration with South African conceptual designer Porky Hefer, and the Massoud siblings, presented by Carwan Gallery in Lebanon, explore the theme of fertility with Cape Town-based ceramicist Andile Dyalvane and Bronze Age Foundry.
That the ranges from these collaborations are being produced on the continent is a strong economic boost.
GUILD is hosting some of the most recognised names in the world. The prestigious Carpenters Workshop Gallery, from Paris and London, is showcasing design pieces by Kendell Geers, the South African fine artist living in Belgium, for the first time on home ground. Esteemed
UK-based journalist Helen Chislett launches her gallery London Connoisseur, presenting work from Thomas Heatherwick, Studio Swine and David Adjaye. South Africa’s Conrad Botes will have a solo show of large-scale sculptural works.
“Design is a crucial tool for innovation, economic growth, and competitiveness in the global market,” says McGowan, who in March will be exhibiting African designs at New York’s top design gallery,
R & Company. The invitation comes after gallerists Zesty Meyers and Evan Snyderman were awed by the African designers when they participated in GUILD last year.
“GUILD has opened the flood gates for South African and African designers to work alongside the best in the world,” she says. “Seeing the work presented side by side highlights just how far we have come.”
WHAT, WHEN, WHERE: GUILD, 25 February to 1 March at the Lookout, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town 8001, sponsored by Absa Private Banking.
