Even as a grown up, it is hard to escape those “back to school” blues that kick in come early September. The best way to deal with them is to plan an action-packed programme of cool things to see and do. And London Design Festival (14-23 September) makes an ideal starting point.
The Festival has made itself at home at the V&A for the past four years. The museum acts as a “hub” for the festival, exhibiting one-of-a-kind installations, hosting talks and directing visitors to other events taking place across the city.
After a host of unforgettable installations, including last year’s Timber Wave by AL_A and TextileField by the Bouroullec brothers, the 2012 festival is set to dazzle again with wildly creative works appearing across the site.
Visitors entering through the Grand Entrance will be greeted by the Veuve Clicquot Prism by Keiichi Matsuda. The work promises to show a very different perspective on London and capture the artist’s fascination with the barriers between virtual and physical.
Another must-see work will be The Journey of a Drop by conceptual designer, Rolf Sachs. Droplets of ink will fall from the Henry Cole Wing grand staircase into a tank of illuminated liquid.
Chairs designed by Japanese studio, Nendo will be dotted throughout the museum. The white punched-metal chairs will serve as a ghostly counterpoint to the museum’s otherwise ornate surroundings.
The art of sitting will be further considered by Bench Years, a collaboration between the festival and British furniture and lighting firm, Established and Sons. The biggest names in design have worked with the company to create benches that showcase the unique properties of materials.
If all of the sitting is proving tiresome, Philips and Cinimod Studio have created Walk the Light. The tunnel entrance to the museum will be transformed by this innovative lighting installation, which will track people with a beam of light as they move through the space.
Over 60 talks, workshops and events will take place at the V&A throughout the festival. Check the London Design Festival website for the latest news and events.
Images Credits:
Prism by Keiichi Matsuda with Veuve Clicquot at the V&A
The Journey of a Drop by Rolf Sachs at the V&A, Henry Cole Staircase, V&A
Bench of Plates by AL_A for The Bench Years, Established & Sons, at the V&A