Local Cultures in Global Settings, Iris Ceramica Group contest kicks off

The round table that took place in the Milan showroom of the Iris Ceramica Group, in Via Santa Margherita 4 on April 20, kicked off the "Local Cultures in Global Settings" international design contest promoted by the Group and curated by UAE Modern. The international showcase of Fuorisalone 2023 was, in fact, chosen to launch a project that ties Milan, London and Dubai, and questions a crucial theme for contemporary design in an increasingly globalised world. Indeed, the question arises as to how multiculturalism influences the context and how this, in turn, affects individual cultural identities. But, above all, if the reverse path can be retraced back through design to unravel the threads of individual cultures and to generate new meanings that take into account needs, knowledge and new technologies.
The subject of the contest is, in fact, the design of a work consisting of a geometric or figurative pattern to be created on the natural ceramic surfaces of the Iris Ceramica Group using the Design Your Slabs ceramic printing solution. A technology patented by the Group that allows any image or illustration to be transferred onto its surfaces. Participation in the contest is free of charge and reserved for all professionals in the architecture, art and design disciplines who graduated in the last 10 years (as of 2013). Design proposals can be submitted for two areas: interiors or architectural envelopes and the deadline for submission is July 31, 2023.

The chosen formula, consisting of a contest and talks, helps create a constructive discussion between professionals, scholars, institutions and companies. The initiative will also be supported by local partners of the Iris Ceramica Group located in the UAE. In fact, the Group has been operating in the Persian Gulf since the early 1990s and, in the United Arab Emirates, it has contributed to a number of major architectural projects. The event will thus be a cultural journey that enables the creation of ties and the sharing of experiences with particular regard to projects focused on the 17 SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) of the UN Agenda, on the topics of sustainability and on the transition to the circular economy. As was the case during the round table held in Milan which, moderated by Massimo Imparato, co-curator of UAE Modern, and introduced remotely by Nicola Leonardi, publishing director of The Plan, saw the participation of: Abeer Seikaly, architect, artist and cultural curator; Khalid Alshafar, founder and director of the Khalid Shafar studio; Lidewij Edelkoort, Trend forecaster; and Monica Mazzolani, co-curator of UAE Modern and co-founder of mta Associates. The four guests, together with Federica Minozzi, CEO of the Iris Ceramica Group, are also members of the jury of the contest.
Following the presentation in Milan, the next stage of the initiative will be a panel discussion and workshop entitled "Materials semantics in design applications" that will be held at the Canadian University Dubai during the week of May 21 to 25. This will be followed by a talk in London on June 28 at the opening of the Perspective UK Forum at the Church House Westminster. Finally, the contest will conclude with the exhibition of the winning entries and the announcement of the winners, set to take place during the Dubai Design Week from November 7 to 12, 2023.

(Agnese Bifulco)

Information and contest rules: “Local Cultures in Global Settings"
 

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