Yet another manifestation worthy of our attention, held as part of Vienna Design Week, gave us the extraordinary overall impression and caused an unusual feeling within its audience. The exhibition that says – come, see, feel, touch – is an original presentation of sea elements shaped in a specific and poetic way. Simply said – this is an unusual display guided by indefatigable strength of imagination.

This exhibition presented within vast glass walls of Kunsthalle (literally “Space for art”) is a work and vision of multidisciplinary designer Julia Lohmann. Julia Lohmann is a professor at the University of Fine Arts in Hamburg where she restlessly develops a completely new world of magic intended for all. At the same time she is a researcher at the Department of Design Products at the Royal College of Art in London. Her research is currently focused on development of materials and shapes made from kelp.

This successful designer of bold ideas constantly explores contemporary issues such as the relationship of man and nature, with an accent on animal world, that guides her work towards exploring her own personality. Constant dilemmas within a human being are turned into an artistic expression and are meant for questioning our own emotions. Sometimes meant to appall, her design is above all surreal. And the exhibition itself presents a mystical scene that will take us away from the real world by moving us into the deep blue sea.

The displayed moment of inspiration, that possesses a certain specific strength, is a reinterpretation of her “giving value to leftovers“ motto. Sea weeds are placed by one another in a form of a cover onto the bearing structure made from metal, fiberglass or wood. The process of forming unusual structures by connecting those carefully prepared “sea strings“ might seem as the product of a pure coincidence. But in reality, with a careful study of the very nature of used material, Julia Lohmann has learned how to “listen“ and feel the movement and the behavior of nature thus guiding her work in desired direction. In every moment she possesses the control over the form that gives her unlimited possibilities of form-making. Every design becomes a possibility that erases the line between the reality and imagination. Her sculptures become silent story-tellers of hidden secrets written within the great waves of the sea, making some ordinary things come to life – from luminaires to everyday hats. In the variety of design expressions Julia Lohmann also generated a unique-looking fabric made of kelp that resembles the soft nature of leather by its texture and structure.

This revolutionary employment of unusual natural material presents one step further in a constant battle over usage of environment-threatening products. Making us think “green“, Julia Lohmann started her own battle for the well being of our planet.

For more information about Julia Lohmann please visit http://www.julialohmann.co.uk/

Text and photos: Milena Vučković