The term "wellness" should describe a completely natural feeling, hinting at a condition pertaining to the body and the mind. In more recent years the term has been appropriated to market a series of products, objects, workshops or travelling tours allegedly aimed at improving our psychological and physical health.
As a reaction to this trend a transdisciplinary team of students from Tomas Bata University in Zlin, Czech Republic, led by architect and curator Michael Vasku (from the studio Vasku&Klug, run with Andreas Klug) has created an exhibition revolving around concepts of wellness and lazyness.
Currently on at Milan's Ventura Lambrate, "About Layabouts" focuses on the traditional masonry stove ("pecival" in Czech literally means a person who lies down on a masonry stove and does nothing...), conceived as the centre of every household.
The students showcasing their work are part of the Faculty of Multimedia Communications that comprises a series of design based disciplines, but also advertising photography, marketing communications, and fashion.
"About Layabouts" offers a wide range of design objects, quite a few of them characterised by a humorous twist - from minimalist coffee cups and tea infusers to architectural fruit bowls, plant incubators, and unbreaklabe LED lamps covered in soft materials; from porcelain jewellery boxes and eye masks that incorporate soothing visual projections to objects capable of reproducing the sound of the rain or of the waves crashing, plus massage devices, glass Kinder eggs with monstrous surprises and porcelain and recycled fur animals that can help tense layabouts to de-stress.
Some of the students also looked at the possibility of transforming objects: the results of their experiments include a hoodie that turns into a blanket, a ceramic spa mug that can be used as a necklace, a fruit bowl that can be converted into a small fireplace and a book transformed into a lamp or woollen slippers surprisingly hiding inside a pair of flat shoes that can massage the wearer's feet.
Fashion enters the project through flexibile shoes, bizarre coral-like footwear, wooden platforms inspired by forests made with leftovers from the production of electric guitars, a heel-less shoe that demand the wearer to walk slowly and pause not to fall over and a glass skirt that freezes in time and space traditional costumes.
While providing a safe haven to the Milan Design Week visitor, the exhibition raises one key question - wouldn't we all be healthier and happier if we were a little more lazy?
Is this the first time the Tomas Bata University goes to Ventura Lambrate?
Michael Vasku: Yes, it is the first time the Tomas Bata University will be represented at Ventura Lambrate and the second time it presents itself during the Design Week in Milan. Last year the university debuted in Milan at Fuori Salone in the Czech Centre with an exhibition called "Bite Me Milan". It was a partnering exhibition of the national Czech exhibition "The Wishing Table".
What kind of courses/disciplines are the students involved following?
Michael Vasku: We are a transdisciplinary team gathering students from 8 different studios: Graphic Design, Spatial Design, Industrial Design, Shoe Design (there is a dedicated studio for footwear design at the Tomas Bata University), Animation, Advertising Photography, Visual Communications and Marketing Communications. Together we worked on the exhibition production covering everything from the exhibition design, over the catalogue and website to PR and logistics. The exhibits are provided from 4 studios: Industrial Design, 3D Design, Glass Design & Shoe Design.
Can you tell us more about the main themes of the showcase?
Michael Vasku: The overall topic is "Wellness". That word is associated with a variety of services, goods and food products, promising a feel-good effect and aiming for passive recreation. However, it seems that what people once achieved by relaxing at home on their couch, is today demanded from consumption. Generally the exhibition evokes the question whether a little more laziness wouldn’t make us a little healthier and happier? Of course one achieves this effect only if he or she doesn’t regret but enjoys the time when being a layabout. The presented exhibits are concepts of products which help to consciously enjoy laziness for the purpose of regeneration.
In which way did the students involved tackled the themes of wellness, lazyness, cosyness and wellbeing?
Michael Vasku: Many students were less conceptual and worked with conventional typologies like vases or lights and other accessories. Some came up with new concepts like Karolína Fardová, who designed a cuddly toy made out of porcelain, Matic Vihtelič constructed a sound device imitating ocean noise or Martina Řiháčková turned a rolling pin into a massage tool. But there are also great ideas in the field of conventional product design. For instance Vojtech Žák presents a showerhead that can be attached to the palm of a hand.
What kind of materials did they employ for their works?
Michael Vasku: There are many porcelain objects, as many students tried to work with a high-grade material that fits into the atmosphere of everyone's home. I am happy that there are also some material experiments: Uranbileg Altangerel tried to imitate sea corals for footwear, Matic Vihtelč’s "Rainmaker" changed the time measuring material in a sand glass to water and Linda Kocmanová created soaps that can be used as massage tools.
In which ways will the showcase during the Ventura Lambrate event engage the visitors and inspire interior designers/creatives?
Michael Vasku: The installation at Ventura Lambrate also addresses the "wellness" idea and is inspired by traditional central European stoves. For centuries a fireplace has been connected with the meanings of survival, feeling of warmth and cooked food. The function of a fireplace was once adapted into a stove, which had become the centre of every men's household. It would serve as a source of warmth, as a place for cooking, families would gather around it and some would even sleep on it. Stoves represent the warm feeling of home, the warm welcome and food that moms would provide us with, the well-feeling or well-being no other place can give. On the one hand the exhibition's aim is to provide a glimpse of that feeling to the visitors in Milan. On the other hand it should inspire them to be a little lazy in that hectic atmosphere of Milan Design Week. Therefore the exhibition provides a cosy calm zone where visitors can watch an animation explaining the exhibited products or simply become layabouts for a short time.
Have you ever been to Milan Design Week before and what do you expect from this event at Ventura Lambrate?
Michael Vasku: Personally I have been going to Milan for about ten years, as we organize or participate in shows regularly. I believe this is a great opportunity for the students to broaden their horizons, compare their skill and meet new people. I am very thankful that the University agreed with the idea of joining Ventura Lambrate, as it still is the best place to be for academies and I hope that more people get interested in what we do at the Tomas Bata University in Zlin.
The Tomas Bata University showcase "About Layabouts" is in Via Privata Oslavia 7, 20134 Milan, Italy, until 13th April 2014.
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