New York - Designers Karim Charlebois-Zariffa, Benjamin Harrison Bryant and Paul Marcus Fuog spent three months in a farming community on the outskirts of Ubud, Bali.
Partnering with local craftsmen, they created a considered collection of objects that turn the traditional aesthetic of a souvenir on its head. 'In Bali each village is known for a different rich craft ranging from kite making to masonry,' Bryant tells LS:N Global. 'Field Experiments is about an open exchange and conversation with the local makers – each day we collaboratively conducted design experiments.'
Applying a fresh energy to traditional souvenirs, the objects are anything but generic. Including vibrant marbleised ad hoc furniture, abstract limestone posters and totemic still-life paintings, the collection is imbued with a tactile human quality while being graphic and contemporary. The eclectic collection of objects and textiles is being presented for the first time, at Sight Unseen OFFSITE during ICFF alongside a small publication documenting the daily experiments, portraits of the makers and diaries of the cross-cultural exchange.
For more examples of meaningful collaborations within the global craft sphere read our Textile Futures work in progress review.