Material Matters 2022

It was with great pleasure that ROKOS took part in Material Matters, during this year’s London Design Festival.

Photograph by Mark Cocksedge

Material Matters is a new design fair focused on materials, how they are used and their ability to shape our lives. Based on the podcast of the same name by Grant Gibson, the fair included site-specific installations, a programme of talks and displays by leading brands and experimentalists whose practice is at the cutting edge of materials.

Material Matters selection

Photograph by Yeshen Venema and styled by Jessica Jung. Works by Rootfull, Studio Candice Lau, Living Object, BC Joshua, Hagen Hinderdael, Bodo Sperlein and Rokos.

Material Matters ran from 22-25 September at the iconic Bargehouse on London’s South Bank, Oxo Tower Wharf.

231 MIN candleholder in white

The white glass matches the white candle. As the candle is inserted and slowly sinks into the water, the white glass appears to magically extend down the neck. After lighting as the candle flame grows, the white glass appears to change pink. Mouthblown borosilicate.

Photograph by Yeshen Venema and styled by Jessica Jung. 'Rise and Fall of a Candle' in white and clear borosilicate (left); 'Miniature Daisy Vessel' by Vanessa Hogge (right). 'Curvaceous Contour' wooden side table by Bodo Sperlein.

13 ˚ 60˚ 104˚ decanter with yellow borosilicate neck detail

In 2012 the original 13˚ 60˚ 104˚ won the Red Dot Design Award. Ten years on, this anniversary edition’s yellow neck suggests that white wine may also be decanted.

13˚ 60˚ 104˚ decanter with yellow borosilicate detail (centre); panels by Smile Plastics (left and right). Photograph by Yeshen and styling by Jessica Jung.

231 MIN candleholder - clear, amber & ribbed

Launched in September 2020 during lockdown – this is the candleholders’ first trade show. The last thing the designer did before lockdown was pick up candles from the candle shop Charles Farris; then he could design a candleholder around them. German Design Award 2021 - Special Mention.

'Rise and Fall of a Candle' in amber borosilicate (centre); panels by Smile Plastics (left and right). Photograph by Yeshen and styling by Jessica Jung.

Photograph by Zena Holloway

22˚ 36˚ 48˚ Roiro

Material Matters gave the first show appearance for the 22° 36° 48° Roiro bowl: the first of this limited edition of 28 was completed in 2014 and hand finished with 25 layers of Japanese lacquer. (Roiro bowl, far left, below.)

ROKOS exhibition stand at Material Matters

Gauge large vase

Available online since November 2020, Material Matters gave the Gauge large vase its first appearance at an exhibition. The very largest of the Gauge range, it is mouth-blown into a wooden mould in lead free crystal.

Photograph by Mark Cocksedge

DYSLEXIA AND DESIGN

The Saturday's talks included 'Dyslexia and Design'.
The panel - Chris Day (glass artist), Simone ten Hompel (metal artist), Bethan Laura Wood (designer and artist) and Jim Rokos - was chaired by Piers Roberts (co-founder of Designersblock).
A swathe of leading figures in design, architecture and craft are dyslexic. How does dyslexia contribute to their professional or personal lives? Is it a creative strength? The panelists described their experiences and illustrated how dyslexia allows them to see the world slightly differently.

Christopher Day is a mixed race artist who uses his craft to navigate what it means to be black in the UK. And also, white. While he might be both, he sometimes feels like he is not enough of either. His new, deeply personal works are often self-portraits that explore what it means to be biracial in the UK.

Bethan Laura Wood work is characterised by materials investigation and a passion for colour. Since 2011 she has worked with Nilufar Gallery to showcase her limited edition and one-off works. She has collaborated with brands including: Rosenthal, Moroso, Valextra, CC-Tapis, Hermes and Dior.

Simone ten Hompel is one of the foremost metal practitioners in the UK. "I started working with metal really early on in my life. I did an apprenticeship as a blacksmith in Germany while I was still going to school. Part of the reason for this interest is that I’m a really excellent dyslexic and I knew that school was going to be difficult." In 2005 she won the Jerwood Applied Arts Prize.

Piers Roberts launched Designersblock in September 1998 at the Old Truman Brewery, 5 years ahead of the London Design Festival. Designersblock went on to plant the seed for city design festivals in London, Tokyo and Milan. Diagnosed autistic aged 50 Piers champions those who think, feel and see differently.