Tord Boontje:

A Floral Romance in High Tech

A design liege, a prescient alternative thinker and a treasurer of nature, Tord Boontje's work has an inscription of feral beauty and ÁRUDOORYH+HEHOLHYHVLQVHHLQJWKURXJKRYHUJURZQSDWKVDQG ÀQGLQJLQÁXHQFHVIURPQDWXUH6RPHZKHUHXQGHUQHDWKWKHRUGLQDU\ LVZKHUHKHÀQGVKLVLQVSLUDWLRQKLVH[SORUDWLRQDQGKLVPHQWDOVWDWH of tangible understanding. Somehow beauty is Tord Boontje’s autograph.

Words: DANIEL SCHEFFLER Images: © DESIGN INDABA; TORD BOONTJE

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ord Boontje spent his world context. Relevant to the times that a modern feel or contemporary childhood making furniture and with an understanding of modern design need not ignore or jilt tradition. and dens for his room and living, Boontje translates his Dutch In Boontje’s design praxis – this even jewellery, which he heritage and a feel of great bespoke loosely understood as design practice then sold to his classmates vibrancy in his work though his plus theory – technology does not at school. With his mother packaging thereof, his website and his relinquish nature, people or the Tbeing a textile designer and art teacher, choice of retail. finesse of human senses but rather Boontje found himself constantly Nature as the teacher, Boontje as leans in nature, dances with humans nudged into a creative sphere. This the student and appreciative learner, and possesses an understanding of young enthusiasm acted as a catalyst Studio Boontje celebrates and technology. fuelling his desire to one day become a glorifies technology and new property While Boontje is permanently great designer. materials in a highly modern and stationed at his studio in France, he Studying at Eindhoven in advanced way, relating this relevance spends whatever time possible the Industrial Design Academy – in a new decade of the 21st century. traversing the globe for inspiration revered as one of the world’s top The Studio has won many awards, and influence. As a designer he contemporary design schools – including a Red Dot and Elle Décor believes it necessary to soak up as Boontje made a daring impression on prize. Works released from it have much as possible so as to create his peers and lecturers. His studies also been exhibited in galleries and designs, things, items that can really here were followed by a Masters museums around the globe, including survive out there in the world. He lists degree at London’s Royal College of London’s Victoria & Albert. shopping, visiting museums and Art. Boontje lived and worked in The Studio delivers work that watching movies and sunrises as London until 1995, after which he holds the vivid and grand belief that banal yet simple inspirations. established Studio Boontje in Bourg- modernism does not necessarily have In his work, Boontje often stirs Argental, France. to be minimal or minimalistic. Boontje subcultural references with ancient His work lives gloriously in a and his team are also of the opinion traditional imagery. The elucidation of

www.prestigemag.co.za 93 Leaders in All Watercraft Insurance, Yachts – Local & International Waters

All Risk Cover 4 x 4 Vehicles this chaos into true beauty is perhaps appreciation in chronological book Motorcycles and ATVs an indication of how this maestro array, from his make-it -yourself style Motor and Household craftily and succinctly delivers his – such as the “rough and ready” chairs thoughts and visions to the world. His consisting of sticks and sewn together Commercial claim to fame includes works entitled tapes and blankets – to simple, “Wednesday,” “Happy Ever After” and elegant pieces of furniture with a Cargo Movement “Icarus.” His mythology-laden “Icarus” more personal note attached to them. lampshade is based on the Greek Boontje identifies his most narrative of Daedalus and Icarus, who rewarding project as the “Tranglass” carefully constructed wings of wax production in Guatemala. Here, in a 24/7/365 and feathers to escape the cruel and glass workshop he has set up, teams EMERGENCY & demonic Cretan King Minos. The lamp of local staff collect empty bottles is a ruffling pinion of feathers from restaurants in the surrounding MEDICAL CLUB representing the zestful attempt of neighbourhoods to use as raw ASSIST Icarus combined with the foolish materials for decorative lamps and nature of his pride. It has a complete exotic crockery. The impact has been drop of 78cm and is sizable in tune tremendous, assisting an otherwise with Icarus’s ideals. With ethereal struggling community. plumage the lamp is something of a Boontje is currently designing for dream-like exploration of exactly who American retailer Target, where his Boontje is: a visionary who can take work has gravitated towards a wider from the past, from heritage, and give appeal, so spilling over into mass modernity to it fluidly. production. He has even shot a Earlier this year, at the Design Hollywood-filmed TV commercial that Indaba held in Cape Town, Boontje will air across the USA as an exposé discussed his love for the phenomenon on the partnership with Target. This, of the physical world in a collective; as well as working with another including plants, landscapes, animals retailer, Habitat on the “Garland” and other living species. While light, has further bolstered Boontje’s showcasing those works inspired by commercial appeal. natural settings, Boontje spoke Boontje is a firm believer in vibrantly about how the physical optimism even when there is no force governing all of mankind drives sunshine, a trait that shines him to heights of creativity. He through all his work and philosophies. continued by arranging his life’s work If your interest has been, visit in a catalogue-like style of www.tordboontje.com. D

club marine tps.indd 1 2010/06/01 6:49 PM LISTEN Feel the RHYTHM of the World

Goblets gushing wine, stark starched usic from around the world exerts tablecloths, polished solid silverware; wide cross-cultural ROGÁDYRXUVQHZÁDYRXUVRYHUVL]HG influence as styles naturally influence SODWHVODGHGZLWKIDUHIURPIDUDQGZLGH one another. In Mcontemporary terms, world music has ²ÀOOLQJPRUHWKDQMXVWGHVLUHVDQGWKH been marketed as a viable genre in GHFDGHQFHRIWDVWHV7DVWHVVRGLYHUVH itself. The academic study thereof, along with the musical genres and so marvellous that they penetrate the individual artists with which it has been associated, can be VNLQ«7KLVLVZRUOGPXVLFDQGLWLVDIHDVW drawn to anthropology, musicology, ÀWIRUNLQJV folkloristics, performance studies and ethnomusicology. The origins of the misty term Words: DANIEL SCHEFFLER “world music” possibly began in a Images: © IMN; WORLD MUSIC NETWORK capitalised sense in 1982, when World Music Day was served in France – it is

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now an annual festival that takes place on 21 June each year. “World music” is used to describe all music that is not strictly from the west, though its life-force and power escaped this narrow and rather deep- seated prejudice by growing into the indulgent offering it is today. From a marketing stance, Paul Simon’s Graceland album in 1986 jolted attention in the press by him expressing his own sensibilities using sounds he’d fallen in love with while listening to South African artists like Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Savuka. Other projects, like the work of Peter Gabriel and Johnny Clegg, spurred even more vested interest into non-Western music and supplied the world with a smack of rapture. In the late eighties, music stores globally fussed over the scarcity of available world music and therefore did not measure it effectively. A strategy to support a crossover audience from jazz and classical music was necessary to collectively introduce the new listener to the market, thus teaching record stores how to "rack" or categorise the genre in the best fashion. Even the name reflected some discouragement from record industry professionals, with suggestions to add words like “Tropical” or “Hot.” These suggestions were thrown out excessively fast, however, as they suppressed the global feel and integrity of world music. Through music magazine NME, a compilation cassette from various world music labels was compiled, including on the cover a duo colour execution to show the differentiation of world music. With press attention hotting up and a world music chart developing, the commercial and financial success of the genre was clear and tactile. So much so that in October 1987 “World Music Month” was designated, with thriving music festivals, effective radio airplay and successful press gigs. Celebrations such as the California World Music Festival, Mali’s Festival

www.prestigemag.co.za 131 in the Desert and Malaysia’s continent. But we also try to challenge Rainforest World Music Festival the stereotypes associated with music started attracting hordes of fans from Africa. This project isn’t about eager to sample and experience new connecting with one’s roots; it’s and crisp music influences from more about exploring African places they could perhaps barely cosmopolitanism in this 21st century pronounce. Word of mouth mounted. through music.” The likes of Bhunda Boys and Youssou Musicians from culturally N’Dour attended the festivities. Even heterogeneous arenas and spaces South African township musicians have been recording music with the and their signature beats started support of the people since the advent attracting positive press, both locally of sound recording and international and internationally, alongside Koto air travel. This has birthed a stylistic music from Japan and Indian Raga mix and merry potion that involves music, all of which started working visiting musicians and other countries their way into homes across the globe. in all the production. With the Provoking new forms of creative commercialisation of music through expression and social mobilisation, communication technology, sharing South Africa’s Pan African Space online and bounteous social media, Station (PASS) is a 30-day music event the fear of musical homogeny and that takes place during the month of annihilation of traditional music- September or roundabout each year, making practices is rife. Now even and culminates in a four-day, live more importantly is the desire to African music festival. Now entering reclaim and savour ethnic music and its third year, PASS takes place online in doing so, protect its very nature. through a freeform music radio station Crossover music has developed and across venues in Cape Town, so from this flurry of fragrant sounds continuing its cross-cultural and and delicious tones. In mainstream cyber-spatial voyaging to bring music today, artists such as Shakira, together diverse pan-African sounds Buena Vista Social Club and Lucinda from ancient grooves to future hip- Williams have stretched out to a hop. Say event curators, “PASS much broader fan base. World music embraces the lineages that shape has been influenced by hip-hop and music-making on, and from, this pop, even heavy metal. Music radio stations and webcasting music channels play crossover Bhangra and Paul Simon’s Graceland Latin American jazz to enthusiasts across the globe. album in 1986 jolted World music delights in the attention in the press vehement ability to revel in music; to by him expressing his switch on and allow for it to flow onto you, into you and through you. It own sensibilities using allows for this to be shared and co- sounds he’d fallen in created by others: strangers at a love with while listening festival or intimates right alongside you. World music takes the origins of to South African artists notes, the nuances that may be like Ladysmith Black indigenous, and serves it up as a Mambazo and Savuka. banquet of aural indulgence. D