EXD’13 LISBOA NO BORDERS 7 NOV – 22 DEZ OPENING WEEK 7 - 10 NOV METAMORPHOSIS PROJECT METAMORPHOSIS is the exhibition which unlocks the contributors creative carte-blanche to devise new terrain, opening week of EXD’13, Lisbon’s design & architecture functions and forms while using cork to explore new fields Biennale and showcase for national and international innovation and typologies, in symbiosis or metamorphosis with other and creativity. This show, presented in partnership with the materials and properties, creating state of the art concepts for impressive Jerónimos Monastery (DPGC) and amidst its the 21st century. The creative group was involved in all stages Cloisters, will highlight the visions of 10 distinguished product of the process, working alongside with both the curators and designers and architects. Curated by experimentadesign, industry. Using this approach, cork is situated at the level of METAMORPHOSIS is the result of a research project initiated conceptual development, working both on it and with it; taking in 2011, produced in partnership with Amorim, world’s leading full advantage of its remarkable adaptability and capacity to producer of cork, on the potential and limits of this decidedly be transformed. The focus is on cork, not only because of its Portuguese material. The project has sparked innovative, technical characteristics but also due to its sensory, dynamic and creative and cutting-edge use of cork, thus expanding its aesthetic qualities; exceeding the limitations that confined it to horizons. An invitation was extended to renowned contemporary a bit role as material used almost entirely for infrastructures. designers and architects: Pritzker Prize winners, Álvaro Siza, The outcomes of METAMORPHOSIS will undoubtedly Eduardo Souto de Moura and Herzog & de Meuron, along with have an impact on the creative community, and these new celebrated architects Alejandro Aravena, Amanda Levete, João projects will inspire more extensive exploration of this age-old, Luís Carrilho da Graça and Manuel Aires Mateus, as well as environmentally-friendly and entirely sustainable material. three top product designers, James Irvine, Jasper Morrison and Naoto Fukasawa. This experimental initiative gave its guest METAMORPHOSIS will stimulate and inspire the creative community to explore and make the most of this age-old, environmentally-friendly, entirely sustainable material whose borders are still expanding. experimentadesign Metamorphosis is a project developed by experimentadesign in partnership with Corticeira Amorim, CORK which was responsible for all production. Cork is the outer bark of the cork oak tree, which has grown for millennia throughout the Mediterranean The exhibition is a partnership between EXD’13 and DGPC / Mosteiro dos Jerónimos. region. Natural, 100% renewable and recyclable, it gathers unmatched properties: strong yet porous, The opening of METAMORPHOSIS is taking place at November 7, 7pm, incredibly lightweight, waterproof, fire resistant and soundproof. in the presence of His Excellency the President of the Portuguese Republic Aníbal Cavaco Silva and the Secretary of State for Culture Jorge Barreto Xavier. 3 ABOUT THE METAMORPHOSIS PROJECT METAMORPHOSIS, is based on a project originating from a METAMORPHOSIS could not have happened were it not for the partnership with Corticeira Amorim, which began in 2009. sterling efforts of a unique network of professionals. We would Focussing on the creative possibilities of the manufacture and like to thank all those who have participated in the project, the use of the exceptional raw material that is cork, it was developed different teams responsible for its organisation and Corticeira further between 2011 and 2013. Devised, curated and organised Amorim for its investment in this creative, as well as productive by experimentadesign, it highlights experimentadesign’s field. A special mention also goes to my dear James Irvine, approach as an agent that fosters project-based culture at who died in early 2013 and with whom we had the pleasure of international level in the areas of design and architecture. working on one of his last projects, witnessing his talent and Rather than just special and unique items, the objects made creativity first-hand. and studies undertaken pave the way for the exploration of new processes and applications. We also welcome the fact that this We hope this exhibition contributes to consolidating the partnership has acted as a catalyst for other projects and focusses essential role of culture, design, architecture and creativity in on cork since its inception and during its implementation. developing a better, more balanced and fairer society. Showing the creative and productive processes of ten renowned Guta Moura Guedes designers and architects, the exhibition shows the scientific, President experimentadesign cultural and symbolic value of cork in Portugal and the rest of the world. It also documents its first foray at international level with an exhibition that is part of the EXD’13 Biennale programme in the Cloister of the Jerónimos Monastery, which is a unique monument in Portugal’s architecture and history. EXPERIMENTADESIGN A platform for the dissemination of contents in the areas of design, architecture and project-based culture. It encourages critical thinking and contributes to extend the domains of thought, producing knowledge and practical solutions. The EXD Biennale is experimentadesign’s main output. 4 © APCOR 5 METAMORPHOSIS CORK’S PRODIGIOUS FUTURE Today, a century and a half after it was founded, Corticeira And so, it was in this spirit that, in partnership with Amorim is a robust economic group with an international experimentadesign, we challenged ten of today’s most talented profile, as well as the leader in the cork industry, recognised architects and designers to research cork and create innovative for developing cork applications and high- performance cork approaches to it. Rather than new products, the idea was to products with added value for a range of activity sectors. attempt an unusual and questioning reflection on the material, The history of Corticeira Amorim and the entire cork sector has thus pushing far beyond the current boundaries of cork. been indelibly marked by the company’s passion for the material. After four years of profound thought, extensive research, The entrepreneurial vision of successive generations, their ability continuous developments and intense interaction between a to predict how the world changes, to project the increasing use wide range of different knowledge areas, we are honoured to of cork and their determination to make that vision a reality will present the works of Alejandro Aravena, Álvaro Siza, Amanda also surely shape its future. Levete, Eduardo Souto de Moura, James Irvine, Herzog & de Nobody knows, as well as we do, the virtues of cork (a material Meuron, Jasper Morrison, João Luís Carrilho da Graça, Manuel with an absolutely unique structure that is impossible to Aires Mateus and Naoto Fukasawa. replicate); the value it adds to products and its remarkable The end result is of the utmost importance and works as a contribution to the balance of the cork oak forest (Montado), simultaneous repository of age-old knowledge, the exploration of which is a paradigm of sustainability. We are excited about cork’s unique qualities and evidence of the avant-garde creativity the idea of constantly researching and developing new cork stemming from the intervention of ten of the world’s most applications and products, putting its incredible qualities to work renowned talents. for a more comfortable and environmentally-friendly daily life. As such, METAMORPHOSIS is more than just the simple record or exhibition of this process: it is an unequivocal statement that cork is the material of the third millennium; an inspiring conclusion that reaffirms the value of our mission. A word of thanks to the team who have developed this initiative; for their constant diligence, resourcefulness, professionalism and enthusiasm. And a final word in memory of James Irvine: we will always remember his joy and sensitivity. António Amorim President & CEO Corticeira Amorim CORTICEIRA AMORIM World leader of the cork sector, developing activity in over 100 countries and generating business upwards of 500 million euros. More than any other player in this sector, Amorim stands out for its investment in I&D and innovation, developing a portfolio of solutions of added value for some of the most demanding industries of the world. 6 © Amorim 7 METAMORPHOSIS EXHIBITION AT THE MOSTEIRO DOS JERÓNIMOS – CLOISTER The Cloister of the Jerónimos Monastery, located in Through the fruition of the ten works displayed, the beholder one of the most historically significant monuments of is given the sensorial feelings innate to experiencing cork on a Portuguese architecture and history, hosts the exhibition tactile, visual and auditory level, providing a unique, hands on METAMORPHOSIS. and enriching experience. Drawn according to a plan which encompasses the Cloister's The exhibition path meets its end with a movie screening, square shape, the exhibition flows throughout the first level, contextualizing the complex process of cork production, creating a pace in full synchrony with the quiet atmosphere deepening our knowledge of this exceptional material. of the Monastery, inviting the visitor to pause, experiment, and ponder about the meaning of the objects in display. Thus the exhibition becomes a metamorphosis