Totes TOTEMISM.

 Above: The Batonka Stool Totem by Ardmore. Below: Clementina van der Walt

So, another week rolls around in London town and it’s a tad cold to say the least. I’m warming myself with divine inspiration via trendtablet, (a fabulous resource btw)a blog by one of my all-time favourite icons and trend forecaster extraordinaire – Lidewij Edelkoort. My visit to Lidewij’s exhibition “Archeology of the Future” in Eindhoven, featured as my first blog post way back in June 2009, that’s nearly 3 years of blogging!  

Above: Rudolph Jordan & Micah Chisholm. Below: Curious Still Life Landscape by Anya de Klerk

Which brings me to TOTEMISM, an upcoming exhibition in Cape Town curated by Lidewji, where Memphis meets Africa by way of vibrant patterns, bold colours, metal finishes, wild animal skins and much stacking and layering – this is modern primitive to the max. The exhibition highlights the colourful revival of the famous l980’s design movement and it’s link to local design. Edelkoort sees the kinship between Memphis and South African creativity, between shanty town colours and Italian kitchen laminates from that era. “South African style is set to gain inspiration from new ideas working with colour, craft and pattern, liberating itself in pretty much the same way that the Memphis Design Movement did 30 years ago,” explains Edelkoort.  TOTEMISM runs from l – 3 March as part of the Design Indaba Expo. Wish we were there to share in this creative culture clash…

   Above: Kristen Morkel. Below: Nawaaz

You might have noticed the Memphis style renaissance recently? Designers across the board are being inspired by the same sense of freedom that encouraged Ettore Sottsass to start the movement in l98l. Brush up on your knowledge of the Memphis movement here and visit the websites/blogs of our favourite designers and collaborators who are creating their own mini movements with as much pizazz and tribal pop punch as their predecessors. These include – legendary collaborators and queen of kitsch and cool – Third Drawer Down, with their series of textile products in cahoots with original Memphis princess, Nathalie Du Pasquier. Secondly, the chic and tongue in cheek “Bricks & Mortar” sofa and other “Red Brick” accessories, designed by Richard Woods & Sebastian Wrong as a homage to the Memphis movement. Finally, FEED THE MIND’S favourite multi-disciplinary designer Camille Walala and her original vision of wonder. Enjoy. x

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