Dezeen promotion: a rug patterned like mould and calligraphy created from heartbeats were among projects by Dutch designers showcased for the launch of Ventura Projects at New York's design week (+ slideshow).
Titled Ventura New York – the Dutch edition, the exhibition featured the work of 14 designers from the Netherlands, including Design Academy Eindhoven graduates, at Wanted Design Manhattan during NYCxDesign.
The exhibition was curated by Margriet Vollenberg, founder of Dutch agency Organisation in Design and Ventura Projects.
Ventura Projects first began with an exhibition at Milan's Ventura Lambrate district during the city's design week in 2010. It has since expanded, with projects running in Berlin, London, Kortrijk and now New York.
The cutting-edge design projects on display in New York addressed cultural diversity in the industry, the unconventional use of novel technologies and the production process as a final object.
Lizan Freijsen counteracted attempts to eradicate mould from everyday environments by creating a series of rugs with patterns representing moisture stains.
"Instead of trying to get rid of fungus (as one normally would) she enhances and even beautifies it in her rugs," said the curator.
Rotterdam-based artist and graphic designer Rogier Arents and biomedical engineer Bin Yu presented their Heart Calligraphy project, which is based on the idea in traditional Chinese culture that calligraphy is a silent reflection of the mind.
Attendees attached their fingers to the machine to create small painted graphics on paper that were drawn as a response to their heartbeat.
Hozan Zangana, who was raised in Kirkuk in the north of Iraq, also presented a work based on script. His set of objects recall the curves of his homeland's 7th-century Kufic calligraphy.
Other designers participating in Ventura New York were Studio Jeroen Wand, Studio Rik ten Velden, Studio Susanne de Graef, HandMade Industrials, Carina Wagenaar, Ward Wijnant, Hongjie Yang, Siba Sahabi, Envisions, Daniel de Bruin and Simone Post.
"I don't know if it is in our collective genes, but there is something provoking and boundary pushing about this next generation of Dutch designers," said Vollenberg.
"They are upside-down and inside-out thinkers who have a unique way of processing the world around them."
Ventura New York took place from 13 to 16 May 2016 at Manhattan's Tunnel venue.
Photography is by Dominique Sindayiganza.