Korver’s Korner

It seems as though local designs may have been influenced by the fact that our fragmented past has, perhaps, disallowed us the opportunity to create a unique visual language – but wait – isn’t it because of such a history, one so diverse, so full of “culture” that each South African should have their own sense of self.

Until recently it seemed that a wooden hippopotamus, elephant or lion were the best sellers, nothing wrong with them, I must add- but it is time now to express the diverse landscape and use archetypes, myths and traditions and create functional design one would like in their kitchen, lounge, on their patio – design unique, design South African but design that would suit any place; from Cape Town to Paris to Dubai and so on.

Realise that the reason Italy and France lead the way in certain creative industries is because of their long history of driving quality and investing in good design. For SA it is a history imbued with other things away from design, South Africans act ashamed and embarrassed of their past, but forget  - it sometimes seems – that the past is not only one of apartheid but much more.

This is a history full of culture, tradition, languages and ideas – what other country has so much to play with – and this is exactly what South African’s need to start doing, play with what you have, what you know and conjure up unique functional design.

Putting South African design on the world map will benefit this country tremendously from an economic, social and technological point of view. There needs to be a bigger platform for bringing producers and buyers together; whether this consists of manufacturers, larger retailers, universities and so on.

There are designers that have taken the leap forward with success; there is Haldane Martin with his Zulu Mama chair, the name itself expressing the inspiration - and it’s a gorgeous chair in its identity and aesthetics (see image); there is also Gregor Jenkins who has creatively refigured the Cape Regency turned leg in stinkwood and yellowwood tables into a stylish profile-cut steel table, the Van di Stel table!

Slowly South Africans are beginning to find confidence in themselves. All one needs is a little help, a little push. The inferiority complex means that one does not believe they are talented and equate to international standards until they are told so. When repeating the words Proudly South African don’t just say it – be it!