London Design Biennale

Eclectic exhibition at Somerset House with 40 countries, cities and territories showcasing design ideas on the theme of emotional states.

The show took over all the galleries at Somerset House as well as the courtyard and was a mind blowing selection of ideas and images. It looked at design in the broadest sense of the word, not only looking at products but also social issues and architecture. I think the only way to tackle writing about it is to pick my three favourite installations so here goes!

The Hong Kong entry “Sensonal Estates” looked at the examined the smells of the city and featured scratch and sniff wallpaper. It was in bright repetitive designs and it was amusing to see punters sidle up to sniff it. Smells included temples, roast duck, egg tart and opium. It was shown with a selection of curated objects from the city.

Australia’s “Full Spectrum” marked the legalisation of same sex marriage in the country with a light screen made of 150 strands of light in the rainbow colours which changed and rotated around you. So beautiful!

Finally Greece’s work “Disobedience” was a kinetic sculpture in the courtyard which you could walk though. As you did your weight on the bottom of it made the walls of the corridor around you move outwards. It was like walking though the body of a whale. I’m not sure what it meant but I loved it!

Closed on 23 September 2018

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