An international design fair right in the heart of the Stuttgart. It’s happening again this year. 
The beloved design fair Blickfang is being held once again this year. The significant part of this year’s event is that it’s celebrating its 25th anniversary. I first discovered Blickfang through a poster at a restaurant and being interested in design and furniture alike, I decided to check it out. I was invited as press, but it was nonetheless informing and inspiring to find so many talented up and coming designers. (Excuse the tone and colors of the photos. The light inside the halls were all so different, thanks but no thanks to the lighting installations, natural sunlight from windows and artificial lightings for and from the products and it was a bit tricky for me and my poor GF1. Long way to go when it comes to photography.)
독일하면 디자인이 바로 떠오르지는 않는 것이 사실. 자동차라면 모를까, 패션이나 인테리어 등에 있어서는 이탈리아나 프랑스에 약간 뒤쳐지는 감이 없지 않아 있다. 그릇만 봐도 예쁘다 싶으면 이탈리아나 프랑스제, 좀 투박하다 싶으면 독일제. (대신 디자인말고 견고함으로 따지면 독일제가 최고. 이탈리아산 후라이팬 샀다가 부엌 다 타는 줄) 그것도 작은 도시 스튜트가르트는 하물며… 그런 스튜트가르트에도 약간의 희망이 보이기 시작한것이 새로 오픈하는 가게들이나 쇼핑몰들이 하나같이 디자인에 꽤 신경 쓴 티가 난다는 것.
작년에 다녀왔던 블릭팡이 올해는 25주년을 맞이해 다시 열린다. 그래서 작년 포스트를 일단 다시 데려왔다. 올해는 간단한 기자회견도 한다는데 일단 초대는 받았는데 아가를 데리고 가야하나 고민중. 아가들을 위한 부스도 새로 개설되었다고 하니 괜찮지 않을까.
That said, there were some things that stood out, at least for me, a design novice. My taste in design is rather simple, a bit of Scandinavian with a hint of green and wood, not so scattered, nothing too much on the walls, not too black and white, but keeping the basics basic with a hint of color. From my experience in Stuttgart, wood anything is considered the best, and in fact, it’s very expensive to buy anything made out of high quality wood. And there were a lot of wood-related products at the fair as well, including jewelry, art, furniture, kitchenware, sunglasses and other lifestyle accessories.
인테리어 잡지나 인테리어 관련된 모든 것들을 좋아하고 즐기긴 하지만 엄연히 디자인 아마추어인 나에게도 대표적으로 눈에 띄는 독일 디자인의 특징은 일단 나무로 만들어진 모든 것을 사랑한다는 것. 가구뿐 아니라 (원목가구들은 상상초월 정도로 비싸다) 미술작품, 부엌용품, 귀걸이나 안경 등의 액서서리에도 부담없이 원목이나 나무를 사용한다는 점. 그리고 그런 원목 가구나 작품을 사기 위해서 1년이 되는 시간도 충분히 기다려주는 바다와 같은 마음이 대체로 있다는 것. 자연을 사랑하고 즐기는 사람들답게 집안에도 식물이 굉장히 많은 편이고 집을 팔려고 하는 사람들은 무조건 집 주변의 초록을 어떻게든 어필하려고 애쓰는 정도.
These watches from Cheesy! Also made of wood. I almost wanted to buy one, but no, I don’t need another watch. I’m not sure how they will work once they get wet, but they did look different and intriguing.
Blickfang started in Stuttgart 24 years ago and has been held in six locations with up to 700 retailes and some 135,000 visitors, living up to its reputations as one of the largest design trade shows in Europe. The Stuttgart one didn’t seem to be that big but it did take us two full hours to explore and enjoy the designers and their work. According to the press release, the motto of the event is “Where design gets personal,” and you can indeed feel the personal touch and pride from every retailer and designer presenting their work at the fair. You’re greeted with a friendly hello and they start to explain their designs, from inspirations to usage, examples and some even samples.
국제 디자인페어 치고는 규모가 좀 작았지만 꽤 많은 디자이너들과 작품들을 만날 수 있었던 기회. 2시간 꽉 채워서 둘러보니 다 볼 수 있는 정도. 어느 페어나 그렇듯, 디자이너들을 직접 만나고 소통하고 대화를 나눌 수 있다는 점, 그리고 나에게는 독일과 스위스, 오스트리아의 디자인 성향을 조금이나마 배울 수 있었던 기회였다.
Every little corner counts.
As you may notice, I like lights and light installations. Which is why we still don’t have a proper light setting in our living room.
We are moving next year to a new place so I’m naturally interested in anything home-related, including furniture, kitchenware, actual kitchens or einbaukueche (because we need to build a new one once we move.). Those armchairs. Sigh.
내년에 새집으로 이사를 가서 가구나 집안과 관련된 모든 것에 관심이 저절로 가게 되는 요즘인데 역시나. 부엌을 아예 새로 만들어야해서 부엌가구에도 관심이 많고 소파에도, 의자, 테이블, 조명도…
Jewelry in Germany is also quite interesting. A lot of the jewelry that are popular seem to be very bold, both in size, design and color. I’m a rather skinny, smaller person compared to the average European, so big, chunky jewlery never really fit me. And so it’s rather hard to find smaller, daintier jewelry anywhere. Both German men and women seem to enjoy making a statement and for that I applaud them, but for me, not really fitting. The jewelry up there were some of the smaller ones I found at the event, and was surprised to find them so delicate.
쥬얼리하면 또 독일을 빼놓을 수가 없는데, 예뻐서라기보다는 특이해서? 개인적으로 작고 얇고 가녀린 (?) 느낌의 쥬얼리를 좋아하고 즐기는데 독일에서는 그런 분위기의 쥬얼리는 찾아보기 힘들다. 다 굉장히 크고 색깔도 진하고 투박한 느낌. 결혼반지도 잔잔하고 로맨틱한 느낌보다는 쇠를 그냥 망치로 툭툭 두들겨서 만들어낸것 같은 모양의 크고 투박한 결혼반지도 엄청 인기. 우리집 주변에도 결혼반지, 약혼반지등을 파는 꽤 유명한 독일 가게가 있는데 여기서도 마찬가지. 두껍고 크고 투박한 반지들이 대부분. 다시 한번 유럽의 다양성에 놀랄 수 밖에 없는 이유.
I have to say it was quite an experience, this Blickfang. Not only because it was about design, but because it somehow represented the designs from Germany, Austria and Switzerland. I have to admit I’m more used to Scandinavian, Italian and/or even French designs, and it was indeed an eye-opener from start to finish. For more information about Blickfang, I’ve listed the websites below. There’s not a lot of English material (yet!) but you can still navigate your way through the videos, photos and an online shop. So click away!
Blickfang will be held in the following cities this year. Munich (April 8,9,10), Basel (April 29,30, May 1), Wien (October 28, 29,30), Zurich (November 25,26,27)
Some websites of designers I discovered:
- ZOECA: Beautiful, dainty, affordable jewelry from Austria. Loved their rings.
- Cheesy: The wooden watches! They also have sunglasses, which looked pretty cool.
- Hook and Eye: Their tables and chairs.
- Thomas Poganitsch: The hangers that looked like little doves were a favorite among everyone.
- Karina Wendt: Blush toned glassware.
- Jan Cray Moebel: Industrial yet colorful tables.
- KULØR: Ceramic loveliness.
All photos by rachelsanghee. March, 2016.