There are some design blogs who simply retype press releases, resize press photos and abracadabra – a blog post.

Our standards are a little higher.

Which is why we visit design fairs, design weeks, design competitions and design exhibitions.

Because only by talking to designers, talking to producers and by actually testing the products can you decide if the PR hype is justified.

The minus is of course that design fairs being the new film festivals – our schedule is an absolute nightmare.

Next week’s schedule, however, pushes even us to our limits.

The (smow) design marathon begins on Saturday at the Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven, before moving on to Orgatec in Cologne and then rolling further to end at Grassimesse and Designerss’ Open in Leipzig.

One week, two countries, three cities, four events.

If you want to follow the (smow) design marathon, or just see if we survive, we will be publishing an, almost, real-time travel diary at smow.tumblr.com/

And of course all the highlights and best interviews from Eindhoven, Cologne and Leipzig can be found @ (smow)blog.

It is in truth not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are travelling but for quality design – for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself.

(with apologies to the Arbroath 51, and indeed all who campaign for equality, freedom and justice)

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gute aussichten 2009/2010

On Thursday April 29th the exhibition “gute aussichten – junge deutsche fotografie 2009/2010” opens at the Haus der Photographie, Hamburg.

Established in 2004 as a platform for supporting young, talented photographers gute aussichten has developed into one of Germany’s most important and respected contemporary photography prizes.

This years exhibition features the work of the 8 artists – Georg Brückmann (HGB Leipzig); Philipp Dorl, (FH Bielefeld); Sonja Kälberer, (HGB Leipzig); Ute Klein, (Folkwang Hochschule Essen); Ingo Mittelstaedt, (HBK Braunschweig); Mona Mönnig, (Folkwang Hochschule Essen); Shigeru Takato, (KHM Köln) and Anna Simone Wallinger, (Lette-Verein Berlin) – and presents a broad spectrum of the possibilities available in modern photography.

For all “photographic illusions” play a strong role in the 2009/2010 gute aussichten exhibition.

Philipp Dorl, for example, with his work “…nach Maß, Zahl und Gewicht” moves between painting and photography, between perception and optical illusion and in doing so presents a world that is only familar in its unfamiliarity.

In a similar vein Georg Brückmann‘s diploma show “in-situ” makes use of a certain artistic license to explore the imaginary extension of the visible. Which, at a very basic level, means painting design classics such as the Eames Lounge Chair or Barcelona Chair onto photographs of otherwise unspectacular rooms. The result is an excellent, thought provoking “reality”.

All in all gute aussichten 2009/2010 presents 104 pictures, 2 slide shows, 2 DVDs, 2 books, one container and  various displays.

“gute aussichten – junge deutsche fotografie 2009/2010″ runs at the Haus der Photographie, Hamburg from April 29 until May 30th

Full details can be found at http://www.guteaussichten.org

Gropius Sessel by Georg Brückmann (Foto Georg Brückmann, in situ, www.guteaussichten.org)

(smow)liest, Liesmichl holds: Meine Frau will einen Garten by Gerhard Matzig

A garden is for relaxing in on a summers evening.

For growing vegetables.

For having a cheeky cigarette when you’re supposed to be finishing the accounts.

A garden is also a metaphor for growing up, maturing. Getting older.

In the final (smow)liest event for the 2010 Leipzig Buchmesse, journalist and author Gerhard Matzig presented his own personal tale of the journey from carefree urban youth to responsible suburban middle age.
And to a garden.

In front of a potentially illegally overfilled (smow)room, Gerhard Matzig began by outlining and  explaining the problems of family life in a city centre flat. In the following hour he then led the (smow)audience through the stages – physical, mental and emotional  -of the journey that one must complete on the way to becoming a garden owner.

Easy it ain’t.

But amusing.

Perhaps the most entertaining aspect of “Meine Frau will einen Garten” is, at least for us, Gerhard Matzig’s outbursts at designer furniture and contemporary architecture.

In his “real life” Gerhard Matzig is, amongst other jobs, architecture correspondent for the Suedduetsche Zeitung. As such the sarcasm and criticism come from a specialist viewpoint, and so are particularly well aimed.

With his unhurried, personal approach Gerhard Matzig brought each episode perfectly to life and as such ensured both a fitting, and highly enjoyable, end to the 2010 (smow)liest.

More of the same next year!

Meine Frau will einen Garten by Gerhard Matzig is published by Goldmann Verlag.

Gerhard Matzig signing copies of Meine Frau will einen Garten at (smow)liest

(smow)liest, Liesmichl holds: Roman Graf, Ursula Fricker and Arno Camenisch

For us Switzerland means three things.

USM Haller

Tax avoidance.

Phil Collins.

With the evening “Neue Stimmen from Switzerland”, organised  by SWIPS – Swiss Independent Publishers – and supported by Pro Helvetia, the (smow)room in Leipzig hosted the second (smow)liest event during the 2010 Leipzig Buchmesse.

And proved that the Alpine Republic, does have more to offer. A lot more.

Roman Graf opened proceedings with his debut novel “Herr Blanc”. As a young man Herr Blanc left possibly the only women with whom he could be truly happy. And spent the rest of his life regretting the fact; without realising it. Only at the end of his life, when any hope had – literally- died, must he face the truth that was his life.

The themes of lost love, failure and the eternal search for elusive happiness were then continued in “Das letzte Bild” by Ursula Fricker. In her second novel, Ursula Fricker tells the tale of photographer Flloyd and the, less than succesful, reunion with his 15year old daughter. Set in the wilds of rural Brandenburg, “Das letzte Bild” is a dark, brooding celebration of human nature and fate.

Swiss furniture, Swiss author - Arno Camenisch and USM Haller

The final author Arno Camenisch brought a new tone to the evening. And indeed another language; Romansh. Although officially presented as Arno Camenisch’s first German language novel “Sez Ner” springs back and forth between German and Romansh. And that to great effect. Superficially a comic novel, “Sez Ner” is much more a novel the uses comedy to explore issues of human relationships and the daily problems we all face.

The evening was expertly hosted by Berlin based, Swiss born, journalist Michael Angele who, in addition to presenting the three authors and their works, also stimulated and guided the various discussions.

Is Herr Blanc typically Swiss? And what is Swiss? Can a Swiss author write in German, or should they write in regional dialects?

All in all Neue Stimmen from Switzerland was a highly entertaining and at time thought provoking evening that was very well received by the (smow) audience.

And thankfully no-one thought about Phil Collins the whole evening.

Herr Blanc by Roman Graf is published by Limmat Verlag Zürich.

Das letzte Bild by Ursula Fricker is published by Rotpunktverlag.

Sez Ner by Arno Camenisch is published by Urs Engeler Editor

Michael Angele, Ursula Fricker, Roman Graf and Arno Camenisch

(smow)liest, Liesmichl holds: Grillsaison by Philipp Kohlhöfer.

It’s not easy being German.

It really isn’t.

Fortunately, it can be highly entertaining; as Philipp Kohlhöfer more than eloquently demonstrated to a full house at the opening event of (smow)liest 2010 in the (smow)room in Leipzig.

From David Hasselhoff karoake with South-Central LA gangsters to dinner with Nelly Furtado via the moral dilemmas of associating oneself with childless individuals, Philipp Kohlhöfer led the audience through an amusing, and at times highly poetic, evening of anecdotes, observation and memories.

One of the real joys of the reading was that the majority of the stories told would never happen to the majority of the audience. They are the stories that evolve in the work of a journalist. Those side events associated with the real work. “Normal” people don’t go there, can’t go there and if offered the chance probably wouldn’t want to go there.

Journalists often only realise later that they were even there.

And yet despite the fact that the listeners couldn’t always place themselves in the situations Philipp Kohlhöfer found himself in, they could empathise with his handling of the situation, and somehow knew that he had done the right thing.

Or at least assumed he had, largely due to Philipp Kohlhöfers, relaxed, friendly and highly competent presentation style.

If we are genuinely to believe that this was Philipp Kohlhöfer’s first public reading, then we have to ask why.
Grillsaison by Philipp Kohlhöfer is guaranteed not a book for everyone; but if you are looking for a tome to keep you entertained on the journey to work, or as a companion for longer flights, then the format combined with Philipp Kohlhöfer’s easy, flowing style and the absurdity of the stories should make the journey a little more bearable.

Grillsaison by Philipp Kohlhöfer is published by Goldmann.

High above the mean streets of downtown Leipzig, Philipp Kohlhöfer reads from his debut book, Grillsaison.

The smow library

The snow is finally gone from the streets of Leipzig and that can only mean two things.

Dangerously large holes in the roads.

And Leipzig Buchmesse.

And as in 2009 (smow) is once again taking part in Leipzig Liest – Europes largest public book reading.

(smow)liest begins on March 18th with Grillsaison from Philipp Kohlhöfer. Less related to the Cobb Pro, Grillsaison is a humorous, occasionally deeply ironic, journey in search of the real Germany. David Hasselhof included.

On March 19 (smow)liest hosts the somewhat confusingly titled “New voices from Switzerland”. Profiling three young authors, only one of whom comes from Switzerland, the evening promises exciting new literature and an entertaining mix of literary styles.

(smow)liest 2010 ends on March 20th with “Meine Frau will einen Garten” by Gerhard Matzig. The desired garden is not directly intended for the newly purchased Vegetal and Bubble Club Sofa, but rather is a synonym for the eternal choice between the city life of ones carefree youth and the suburban life of responsible middle age.

In addition to (smow)liest the Leipzig Buchmesse and Leipzig Liest features numerous new – and not so new – publications on designer furniture and contemporary design. We will bring you reports and reviews of the best and worst of this years festival under (smow)liest.

The slightly more impressive Design Library in Milan

The last couple of days have seen an endless stream of emails into the (smow)blog bunker asking if we are OK.

And if we’re OK, why aren’t we posting anything?

Can’t we be bothered?

Are we bored?

Have we finally be rumbled by the (smow)boss?

Far from it, the sad truth is we’ve been forced into doing some real work for change.

We know, we can’t believe it either!

(smow) ... in stock and ready to go...

The combination of Christmas holidays and heavy snow throughout Europe has meant that numerous deliveries from a number of (smow)suppliers have been delayed of late.

Delayed deliveries which all arrived on Thursday.

As we arrived at (smow)HQ on Thursday morning, Vitra were already waiting with a lorry full of products from designers as diverse as Charles and Ray Eames, Maarten van Severen or Verner Panton.

Then USM Haller arrived with a lorry full of Haller tables, USM Haller sideboards and roll containers.  And as they left us to head back to Bühl, moooi arrived from Amsterdam.

Sometimes it really is like the EU car park in the (smow)yard!!!

And then with lunch barely digested Moormann, Lampert and lapalma rolled up.

Fantastic as all this was, it did of course mean that someone had to pack all the new deliveries away.

And that task befell us.

But don’t worry, we weren’t actually forced to sweat.

USM Haller being carried by Eames Elephants into the (smow)warehouse

For such tasks we have a team of specially trained and qualified Eames Elephants; we are simply needed to coordinate the whole exercise.

And so we have spent the past few days directing Eiermann desk, Vitra DSR and USM Haller carrying Vitra Eames Elephants through the endless corridors of the (smow)warehouse.

But everything is now – finally – stored away and our Eames Elephants have returned to the Leipzig Ratsholz to continue helping Leipzig City Council rid the public forests of the plague of nordic walking pensioners who have taken up residence there.

Good luck! We’re counting on you!

And we are back to drinking too much coffee and searching out the finest designer furniture stories for your entertainment.

Vitra Eames Elephants prepare to ambush nordic walking pensioners in Leipzig

Our new flash has arrived …. and that just in the nick of time.
(As the name tends to imply ;) )

For this coming Friday the 2009 Designers’ Open will once again present the finest selection in contemporary design from 150 international designers. And that right here in Leipzig. In addition, a series of lectures, workshops, discussions and “hands on” events will not only wonderfully complement the exhibition, but, hopefully, invigorate, motivate and illuminate both industry professionals and lay visitors alike

Once again (smow) are proud partners of Designers’ Open, but even if they weren’t your (smow)blog team would still take that downtown train to lower Leipzig and the Merkurhaus.

Because it’s worth it.

Updates, comment and photos to follow……

Nils Holger Moormann at Designers' Open 2008

As a Europe-wide active business we at smow take Europe very seriously. We must, it is our home.

And naturally for us the European elections are an important event for which we are more than happy to sacrifice a couple of hours of our time in which to go voting.

A typical polling station....

But don’t you also agree that polling stations are frightfully dull locations?  We’re not snobs, but, you know, one could at least try to, you know, make a little effort.

So smow spoke to the responsible authorities in Leipzig and they let us furnish our local polling station here in Downtown East Plagwitz Village.

First it was important to get the right table. After careful consideration we opted for Eiermann tables with asymmetric Eiermann II frames from Ricard Lampert. Easy to assemble, height adjustable … and they look great. Perfect.

Kleiner Trommler by Sabine Mrasek and Clemens Stübner for Moormann

For the ballot boxes we ideally wanted  Kleiner Trommler from Moormann. Sadly we currently have none in stock, and so, on account of the time limits in which we were obliged to operate, we were forced to choose an alternative.

After a detailed search in the expansive (smow)lager we settled on the wonderful Vitra Eames Elephant – not only can they be relied upon not to reveal how you voted, but as elephants never forget they could, potentially, help should the votes go astray.

And with their simple, natural curves they fit perfectly with Egon Eiermann‘s genial table.

Vitra Eames Elephant in action as a ballot box

We were gratified by the positive feedback we received from all the voters who made use of our polling station and are currently working on a concept to furnish all polling stations in Leipzig for the parliamentary elections in September.

Voting is an important and sombre event, but needn’t be a Calvinistic ritual; rather, it can be done in and with a little style.

And as ever smow show the way. And should you need new furniture for our polling station, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

The smow polling station - Eiermann II Table from Richard Lampert and an Eames Elephant from Vitra

smow at ICFF

Sometimes we get the feeling no one really wants us here in Leipzig.

Not that we are complaining – or at least not when avoiding our company means sending us to the International Contemporary Furniture Fair and New York City.

From May 14th until May 19th your (smow)blog team will bring you all the important stories, new products and general lunacy from Vitra, Kartell, Magis, Tom Dixon and all the other exhibitors at North America’s premier designer furniture trade fair. And not just from the official exhibition. As you would expect the (smow)blog team will also be out and about “off-ICFF”.  Aside from casting our critical eye over the new(ish) Droog store in SoHo or the new Moooi presence at B&B Italia’s Manhattan store, we will also be on the look out for the newest, freshest and most innovative design and product development the US has to offer.

And as if that wasn’t enough we guarantee at least one post on the subject of post-colonialism in contemporary US design.

We can’t wait

The only slight downer on the whole expedition is that we will now miss the ever excellent (pop up new music festival and forum here in Leipzig. Especially annoying is that we will miss the Art Brut concert on 16.05 – although in it’s place we do admittedly have Tablefights in Chelsea.

Keep up to date with all the best from the city that never washes either here in the (smow)blog, on twitter or on youtube.

And feedback is positively encouraged.