UnBox Festival Delhi
The Unbox Festival took place from 2-5 February 2012 in New Delhi, examining design and architecture through the lens of 'interdisciplinary processes and experiences that shape contemporary thought and action'. The main component saw a two-day conference held at the British Council featuring Indian and international speakers covering themes spanning activism, identity, authenticity in branding, craft, humanitarian aid and community. Workshops, panel discussions, exhibitions and performances complemented the lecture program.
Food designer Marije Vogelzang at UnBox 2012
DutchDFA supported the participation of the Dutch speakers which included Designpolitie, Marije Vogelzang, DUS Architects, Rietveld Landsape, Catalogtree and 75B. The work of these speakers illustrates a critical approach and the strong tendency for research in design.
On day one, eating designer Marije Vogelzang presented a selection of projects starting from her graduation funerary feast and finishing with a moving eating experience where gypsy women - who were seated behind a white curtain - fed visitors and told stories about their food. Richard van der Laken & Pepijn Zurburg of Designpolitie showed the audience clever ways to communicate current affairs issues via their Gorilla visual column which was first commissioned by de Volkskrant newspaper and can now be seen in de Groene Amsterdammer. An exhibition of Gorilla posters printed on cardboard cartons was on view during the festival. Workshops concluded the day: Marije Vogelzang conducted hers in a local fruit, vegetable and spice market while Designpolitie encouraged participants to create their own 'Gorillas' highlighting recent headline news in India.
Day two began in the framework of Habitat and Humanity with presentations from Rietveld Landscape whose VacantNL installation for the Venice Architecture Biennale pledged for the reuse of vacant cultural buildings in the Netherlands. DUS Architects' playful works of activist architecture showed how temporary architecture can have long-lasting benefits on the community. Infographics specialists Catalogtree followed in the afternoon presenting a detailed case study of their Money & Speed crash animations which illustrated the dramatic stock market crashes on 6 May 2010.
