26 Sep 2011

Blood Mountain presents 'Stories from Central Europe' at the Budapest Design Week 2011

Blood Mountain's 'Stories from Central Europe' is a programme of talks, workshops, exhibitions and educational events related to Hungary's design heritage, visual culture and its future creative potential. With an international line-up of contributors, it is a key programme of the 2011 Budapest Design Week.

The theme of the 8th Budapest Design Week, Couleur Locale ('Local Colour') is inspired by the 19th Century French literary movement, Romanticism. Steeped in social reality and revised notions of nationhood, diversity and cultural identity, it encouraged writers to express dissatisfaction with contemporary issues and proposed new alternatives inspired by foreign cultures and earlier periods.

It is in this spirit that Blood Mountain invited four international participants to explore Hungary's ongoing negotiation between its cultural past and future potential, and its unique position as a 'Central' bridge between the East and West. With a shared interest in resourcefulness, locality and process, they include Tom Sloan (AUS/HU), industrial designer; Fritz Haeg (US), artist-designer-activist; and the London-based collective Technology Will Save Us, comprising digital artist, Daniel Hirschmann (SA/UK) and designer and branding innovator, Bethany Koby (US/UK).

All events take place at Blood Mountain in English.

Public transport: buses 91/191/291 direct to Vérhalom stop, or walk from 4/6 tram stop at Margaret Bridge (Buda side)

'Stories from Central Europe' is produced in association with the 2011 Budapest Design Week and with support from Hotel Lánchíd 19.

-----------------------------------------------

EXHIBITION
4 to 30 October

The exhibition, 'Stories from Central Europe', presents a selection of used functional objects revived with subtle contemporary interventions by Tom Sloan, industrial designer and Creative Director of Blood Mountain Productions. It is a tribute to Hungary's ageing artisan culture, specialist manufacturing skills and the inherent quality of old world materials. Exhibited works include a former gym horse converted in to a bench and a customised leather briefcase, a revamped Soviet era dining table and several lighting solutions. As the first chapter of 'Stories from Central Europe', the exhibition is completed by works produced and loaned by participants for the duration of the show.

With support from Ivan Moschlyak, antique and modern furniture dealer from Budapest's Amata Gallery.

Free

-----------------------------------------------
Tuesday 4 October
6 to 7pm

TALK: Tom Sloan, Creative Director of Blood Mountain Productions and Jade Niklai, Director of Blood Mountain Foundation

Founders of the Blood Mountain collective discuss their broader ambitions and why 'Stories from Central Europe' is timely and crucial in defining Hungary's contemporary design culture.

For all design enthusiasts
Limited capacity | booking is recommended
Free

--------------------------------------------------
Thursday 6 October
2 to 5pm

WORKSHOP: Lumiphone

A DIY soldering experience: participants adapt a kit of disparate electronic components to create a musical device. Includes introduction and an informal Q&A.

Produced by Technology Will Save Us.

For all design enthusiasts 16 years and older
Limited capacity | booking is essential

2000 HUF (20 Euros)
Free for tertiary education students (with proof of valid student ID)

---------------------------------------------------
Friday 7 October
6 to 7pm

TALK: Fritz Haeg _ Edible Estates

American artist-designer-activist, presents his seminal Edible Estates: an ongoing project helping avid gardeners to build and benefit from organically grown urban estates. In light of increasing environmental and health concerns associated with the industrialisation of food production and consumption worldwide, the project is especially relevant to Hungary's former position as an agricultural leader of the Soviet states. Edible Estates in the theme of Haeg's artist-in-residence at BM in May 2012. Started in 2005 in Kansas - the geographic centre of America - Budapest will be its 12th site and following London, Rome and Istanbul, its first in Central Europe.

For all design enthusiasts
Limited capacity | booking is recommended
Free

------------------------------------------------
Saturday 8 October
11am to 1pm

WORKSHOP: Electro-dough

Working with electrically conductive play-dough and basic electronics, participants learn about basic electronics and create playful functional objects. Facilitated by Blood Mountain's educational officer, this is a bilingual event.

Produced by Technology Will Save Us.

For six to 12 year-olds
Limited capacity | booking is essential

4000 HUF (15 Euros) for kids
2000 HUF (7 Euros) for parents and guardians

For more information about BM's long-standing commitment to education visit: bloodmountain.org

------------------------------------------

Sunday 9 October
2 to 5pm

WORKSHOP: Thirsty Plant

Understanding when plants are thirsty, is one of the great challenges of domestic horticulture. A new solar powered plant thirst detector kit is produced by Technology Will Save Us during their Design Week residency at Blood Mountain. Includes introduction and an informal Q&A.

Produced by Technology Will Save Us.

Suitable for all design enthusiasts 13 years and older
Limited capacity | booking is essential

6000 HUF (20 Euros)

End/

-----------------------------------------
Notes to Editor

Blood Mountain (BM) is a creative collective comprising a non-profit arts organisation, Blood Mountain Foundation (BMF) and a design and communications agency, Blood Mountain Productions (BMP). Based in Budapest and working at the intersection of art, architecture and design, BM's mission is to generate new discourse and to encourage the production of new work through design projects, curatorial and educational programmes, residencies and by participating in external exhibitions and events. BM's participation in the 2011 Budapest Design Week is the first collaboration between the two partnership organisations, which were founded in 2009 by Hungarian-born curator, Jade Niklai and Australian industrial designer, Tom Sloan. www.bloodmountain.org

Fritz Haeg is an American artist-designer-activist. He studied architecture at the University of Venice and the Carnegie Mellon University. He is a 2010-11 research fellow at the American Academy in Rome and in May 2012 he will undertake his first residency in Central Europe at BM. Fritz is the recipient of several scholarships and design awards; he is a regular lecturer at American universities (Princeton, Parsons, South California) and contributor to periodicals (Art in America, Art Forum, Frieze). His work has been exhibited at leading institutions (Tate Modern, Whitney Museum, Guggenheim Museum, SF MoMA, MIT and many others). His projects range from urban ecology (Edible Estates, Gardenlab), to social projects (Sundown Salon and Schoolhouse) and commercial design (Fritz Haeg Studio). Between his travel, work and public commitments, Fritz's home base since 2001 is a part-subterranean / part-geodesic dome in the hills of Los Angeles. www.fritzhaeg.com

Technology Will Save Us (TWSU) is a new haberdashery for technology and education. Based in London, TWSU addresses design problems of distinct urban communities; and through a programme of DIY kits, hands-on workshops and support services, embowers participants to find their own, creative design solutions. Founded in 2010 by South African digital artist, Daniel Hirschmann and Bethany Koby, an American designer and branding consultant, TWSU has delivered adult learning programmes for London's School of Life and for younger audiences at TedxKids Brussels. TWSU will take up residence at BM during Design Week to develop a unique education programme for Hungarian audiences and to develop its own creative practice in line with BMF's ongoing residency programme. www.technologywillsaveus.org

Budapest Design Week 2011 presents 120 events by 190 collaborators between 30 September and 9 October. Its mission is to promote the value of design: its economic and social importance and to increase the Hungarian design community's cohesion through collaboration and participation. In its eighth year, the event aims to attract 60,000 visitors and to contribute to the local industry and the changing cultural landscape of Central Eastern Europe. Organised by Design Terminal in partnership with the Hungarian Design Council and the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office. www.designweek.hu

Lánchíd 19 is the first Hungarian member of design hotels™. Opened in 2007, each room is designed by a different local designer with a unique narrative. The building's multi-angled glass façade, positioned on the banks of the River Danube and at the foot of the Habsburg Buda Castle, creates a unique architectural feature. Lánchíd 19 has been a committed supporter of Budapest's design commuity since its inception and BM is delighted to welcome its support for 'Stories from Central Europe' as the organisation's first corporate sponsor. www.lanchid19hotel-budapest.com