_{Image courtesy of ISTANBUL’DAN}

ISTANBUL’DAN

 

The noise, the old and the new, the improvised and the temporary – all the stories that are told and all the experiences shared, the constant change and all the unpredictable aspects of life. What fascinates and captivates us is the versatility and complexity at hand. On our travels around Istanbul we consciously move outside the boundaries of our comfort zone – we want to discover, learn and act. In this day and age actions of inhospitableness are everywhere to be found: thousands of people flee from their homes only to be welcomed with hostility and xenophobia. Populists all over the world are moving social masses and negatively influencing the behavior of many. Under such circumstances, it has become essential to us as designers to concentrate our creative efforts on topics such as hospitality and intercultural exchange – to search for artistic approaches for opposing such social and cultural shifts.  

 

_{Image courtesy of ISTANBUL’DAN}

 

The designers that are part of the collective ISTANBUL’DAN travel to the Turkish metropolis on a regular basis. Fascinated by the entire city and its special neighborhoods thriving with arts and crafts, they have decided to cooperate with artisans from two of Istanbul’s historic areas, Sishane and Galata, to create products. The results seek out the possibilities offered by the production techniques and structures at hand. They interpret the city’s topics and tell stories. In tiny workshops, solutions are developed with simple tools and plenty of improvisation. The artisans work together in a tightly woven net, making almost any thing possible through mutual support. Linguistic and cultural barriers are easily conquered by way of gestures, simple drawings visualize ideas that can then be realized hand in hand. The created pieces are therefore more than plain design objects.

 

_{Image courtesy of ISTANBUL’DAN, “CALYX” Dorothee Mainka}

 

They function as messengers between opposing cultures – they represent an homage to Istanbul, is tin habitants and the local crafts. A side from cooperating with the artisans, the project is also supported by designer and activist Aslı Kıyakİngin, founder of the initiative “Made in Şişhane”, as well as the studio “Artisan’s school“. By establishing important liaisons, helping with translations and sharing their experiences, the studio and ingin facilitate ISTANBUL’DAN‘s go to turn the audience’s attention to the potential that lies within the existing networks of artisans – to generate new creative perspectives for the craftsmen so that their crafts don’t die off.

 

_{Image courtesy of ISTANBUL’DAN, “COK” Michael Konstantin Wolke}

 

Because even though the trade is filled with potential, it is teetering on the brink of collapse – cheap imported goods from Asia dictate the prices and the city plans to modernize certain parts of town and relocate the production workshops. On top of that, the younger generations are constantly loosing interest in knowledge and manual skills of traditional crafts, leading to a lack of successors. The know-how and expertise can not be passed on adequately.  

 

_{Image courtesy of ISTANBUL’DAN, “AYNA” Jonathan Radetz}

 

Working in Istanbul as opposed to any where else, is especially distinguish able through the existing interwoven structures of the many small workshops. The artisans communicate and cooperate in amicable relationships within short distance to one another. Materials, machines and skills are exchanged and shared, ideas can quickly be transferred into a series of experiments. A side from the artisans’ expertise and knowledge of the crafts, it is also their enthusiasm to wards experimenting and their eagerness to improvise that makes this experience even more unique, offering many possibilities to develop further ideas into products.

 

_{Image courtesy of ISTANBUL’DAN, “HCI YATMAZ” Pierre Kracht}

 

The cooperation between artisans and designers combines creative ideas and mechanical skills, bringing for the unique objects and small editions. As the designer is required to participate and be present during the entire production process, and the artisanal production methods limit the amount of objects created, we have consciously chosen to make only limited editions.

 

_{Image courtesy of  ISTANBUL’DAN, “PROSES” Laura Jungmann}

 

Thanks to the artisans’ flexibility, unique techniques and special process steps can be repeated easily after having developed one product. The designers profit from a functioning network that runs like clockwork – the individual craftsmen work hand in hand, enabling even batch productions in the shortest amount of time. Yet due to their artisanal production methods, every product in the collection remains one-of-a-kind.

 

_{Image courtesy of ISTANBUL’DAN, “SEPET” Florian Saul}

 

DESIGNER
Laura Jungmann
Dorothee Mainka
Pierre Kracht
Jonathan Radetz
Florian Saul
Michael Konstantin Wolke

 

more. www.istanbul-dan.de

 

_{Image courtesy of ISTANBUL’DAN}

 

_{Image courtesy of ISTANBUL’DAN}

 

_{Image courtesy of ISTANBUL’DAN}

 

_{Image courtesy of ISTANBUL’DAN}