FRESH FACES: NEW DESIGNERS 2017

Currents of constructivist art can be seen sailing through the lines of Esther Van Schuylenbergh’s soft and subtle textiles. What originated as one of the most famously playful art movements in early 20th century Russia has evidently found a way to saunter in to Esther’s design practice, and thus in through the doors of the Business Design Centre in Islington for New Designers 2017. After originally exhibiting her woven work at the show last year, Esther is just one of many talented emerging designers who will be taking part again this year in the fair’s One Year On exhibition space.

Traditionally, constructivist art encompasses an assortment of materials and colours combined together to form one abstract, often aerial design. Through the tubular forms of Esther’s materials and the architectural approach to their construction, this designer has tapped into a historic art movement and revitalised it with a freshly woven approach. Using a computerised handloom in her Ghent-based studio, she creates shapes wholly determined by the laws and codes of both the loom, and the inherent characteristics of each chosen material.

Now focussing on designing woven interior fabrics, Esther previously studied for her Masters degree in textile design at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Belgium, and has been developing her practice in Ghent since graduating. Right now, coinciding with New Designers, her work is on display as part of the exhibition Plain / Purl at the Design Museum in Ghent, marking ten years of textile design at KASK School of Arts. If Esther’s work gives any indication as to the calibre of work on show at New Designers 2017, this is bound to be an exciting show full of fresh takes on contemporary textile design.

New Designers, 28 June - 1 July & 5 - 8 July 2017

Business Design Centre, London, N1

www.newdesigners.com

www.esthervanschuylenbergh.be

www.designmuseumgent.be/en/events/plain-purl