Making the grade: Serbs show their local strengths

Milan – Local values were key to the Young Serbian Designers at Milan Design Week.

‘How many polar bears have you drowned in your morning coffee or in life?’ asked artist Jovana Bogdanovi?, showcasing his polar bear-shaped sugar lumps. Initiated by cultural organisation Mikser, the show at the Salone Satellite showed emerging designers such as Belgrade-based Antipod Studio and artist Ana Kraš.

Kraš’s ‘Bonbon’ lamps showed off Serbian tradition. She hand-coated shapes made out of steel wire with left-over cotton from Belgrade knitwear company Ivko Knits, creating unique lampshades in colours such as blue, yellow and pink. Kras also showcased a clothing rack made out of oak sticks and plywood panels – perfect for compact spaces.