Click to Enlarge
Holy Granmats! was the project which architectural scholar and designer Antonis Kiourktsis’ Jazzt Design Studio displayed at the exhibition "Memorabilia, designing souvenirs", held at the Museum of Wallonian Life (Musée de la Vie Wallonne) from 5 to 28 October 2012, as part of the 6th Liège International Design Biennale.
The exhibition was held following an open invitation in October 2011 with the intention of exploring the force objects exert on humans. Designers were asked to design useful objects as memorabilia, which relate to, reflect and draw inspiration from the cultural background of the country from which each hails. Sixty creations were chosen from amongst 400 entries from 31 countries.
Antonis Kiourktsis took part with his architectural and product design firm Jazzt Design, which he himself founded in 2010 along with Antonella Nikolopoulou. Holy Granmats! are tableware mats handmade from colourful, non-toxic silicone, inspired by our grandmothers’ tradition, which redefine the doily as a useful object. The silicone captures the embroidery patterns in detail, while at the same time it is resistant to high temperatures and deformation. Holy Granmats! also won 2nd prize in the international contest Mikser Regional Festival - Young Balkan Designers 2011 that was held in Belgrade.
Antonis Kiourktsis studied Architecture at the University of Thessaly and received a scholarship from the Onassis Foundation (2009-2011) to attend a postgraduate course in Contextual Design at the Design Academy Eindhoven. He and Antonella Nikolopoulou together collaborated with the Campana Brothers to design the NEW hotel in Filellinon Street, Athens. Jazzt Design approaches design as a combination of architecture, art and interpretation of ideas through action. In addition, in his capacity as a visual artist, Antonis Kiourktsis participated with a series of sculptures Nude under the Sun in the 1st Biennale of Arts in Santorini, which lasted from 1st August to 30 September 2012 (http://antoniskiourktsis.com/).
