The Ambiente 2019 partner country will captivate visitors with its countless facets, traditions, creative visions and talents, as well as with fascinating presentations. Running under the heading “The Future is Handmade”, India’s contribution will put a fourfold focus on handmade textiles, design and craftsmanship.
Attention will be focused, in particular, on the eighth partner country at Ambiente 2019 – a country which combines incomparable diversity with a tradition of craftsmanship. The designer Ayush Kasliwal will be giving a special presentation under the heading Hand Make at Galleria 1, demonstrating the importance of craftsmanship for India today and what it can offer the world. The two-part presentation will be in discreet colours, and the products will be beautifully highlighted in the style of a design gallery. Meanwhile his designer colleague Sandeep Sangaru will be inviting visitors to a picnic under a canopy of stars in Hall 4.1. Sandeep Sangaru, an interdisciplinary designer, educator and entrepreneur, has designed the Starry Night Café in this hall specially for Ambiente. Working with artisans and women from north-east India, he turns bamboo into a viable material for everyday use.
Stepwell and Kārwān
Sunil Sethi, CEO of the Sunil Sethi Design Alliance and President of the Fashion Design Council of India, is the curator of the two special presentations Stepwell and Kārwān.
What makes Northern Indian stepwells so impressive is their centuries-old sustainable technology and simple design, reflecting the country’s traditional craftsmanship. This is the basic concept of the presentation in the foyer of Hall 9.0, showing India’s typical products and production methods in an interactive environment. The foyer of Hall 10.1 will feature the special presentation Kārwān with its mix of contemporary and historic objects. They will be showcased in a light and airy atmosphere, reminiscent of the first global traders who travelled around the world, transporting their merchandise in caravans of camels and presenting them in market tents. The presentation will be a trip back in time, illustrating India’s own special aesthetics. “The four special presentations will put the focus on the technical skills and craftsmanship of India, this year’s partner country. The designers combine living traditions with innovative modernity and artisan mass production of the highest standard,” says Nicolette Naumann, Vice President of Ambiente.
Indian inspiration for Talents
Location and origin are also major elements for some of the Talents. Indian artists represented include Roshad Shroff, who will be in the Talents area right next to Pravinshi Solanki and Solid Bench, the two winners of the ILA Interior Lifestyle Awards, and also Viti Mittal, the winner of the Elle Decor Awards for Young Talents. As well as running the Talents area, the partner country presentation and the Starry Night Café in Hall 4.1, Ambiente will continue its tradition of holding a special themed day on the Monday of the trade fair. This day will conclude in style, with a reception geared towards the partner country.
