Art & Culture: Jaime Hayón retrospective

JAIME HAYÓN

DESIGN RETROSPECTIVE ON SHOW IN VALENCIA

The work of one of Spain’s most celebrated designers is currently on show in Valencia. “Jaime Hayón: InfinitaMente” opened this autumn as part of the World Design Street Festival “to explore the universe of the multi-faceted creator through materials, tools, creative process, inspiration and references”. The first major retrospective of his work, the exhibition is free of charge and is open until 16 April next year at the Centre del Carme Cultura Contemporània, a space that has brought together most of the programming for World Design Capital Valencia 2022. Earlier this year Hayón received Spain’s National Design Award. According to the secretary of culture and sport in the Valencia regional government, Ximo López Camps, “Jaime applies his personal imagination to everything he does, without distinction between the various areas of action in which he works: from design to art, crafts, interior design and painting. He is a serious and rigorous designer, orderly and methodical, who effectively and meticulously resolves the questions of function and use of the objects he designs, but he is also a creator who explores the blurred boundary between design and art in pieces in which responding to a function is not at all the main objective.” The exhibition showcases a selection of Hayón’s most iconic works, both in the fields of illustrations and artistic pieces, as well as products for companies. It also includes works that have never been presented in Spain, such as “Masquemask”, an exhibition of seven large tapestry-masks designed for the LODZ Design Museum, and “Mediterranean Digital Baroque”, one of his first exhibitions, plus large format paintings and sculptures. In addition, visitors can view products and furniture produced over the past 20 years by Hayón Studio, including limited-edition pieces and samples of processes and raw materials. Glass and ceramics, major players in Hayón’s work, are the central focus of two of the rooms, while the central section is dedicated to the creative process behind pieces of furniture, lighting and accessories of a commercial nature.

PHOTO COMPETITION SHOWCASES THE BEAUTY OF SUMMER IN SPAIN

Photographers from the Costa del Sol and other parts of Spain spent this past summer capturing moments, memories and landscapes and submitting them to Specsavers Ópticas for their summer photography competition. Nearly 100 high-quality entries were received, and the competition was judged by professional photographer Oliver Vegas. “The level of the entries has been really high,” he said. “There were a range of very different photographs, with surreal yet original framing that I did not expect to find. Each of the participants has shown their originality in terms of what we understand by ‘summer’, going from the best sunset to the countryside, the mountains, the city and an endless number of moments that for many will surely have been unforgettable.” He shortlisted five entries sent in by Florence Marie José Cardona Ballester, Patricia Vine, Mundo Torrevieja, Ángel Guadalest and Melissa Royle, and eventually chose Patricia Vine’s image of sunrise over the town of Polop (Alicante) as the overall winner. “My choice has been focused on what each one of them communicates to me, as well as the composition, colour and originality. As a great majority of countries have suffered high temperatures this year, this photo really stood out, showing the emerging heat of the day, counterbalanced with where the sun is hidden and gives us shade.” Patricia won a pair of designer sunglasses and a €100 Amazon voucher, which she collected from Specsavers Ópticas in Benidorm. “It was taken from our balcony in La Nucia,” she explained, “looking across to the town of Polop. The scenery changes depending on the time of day and this was taken at sunrise. We have had so much pleasure in enjoying this view, so I was delighted to be able to capture this moment and share it with you.” Presenting Patricia Vine with her prize, senior optometrist Silvia Tormo Fernandez from Specsavers Ópticas in Benidorm said, “We’d like to congratulate Patricia for winning this competition and thank everyone who sent in their entries for the competition. It was wonderful to see so many beautiful images of the Spanish summer.”

Opposite Page: Ángel Guadalest (Left), Melissa Royle (Right). This Page: winning entry by Patricia Vine (Top), Mundo Torrevieja (Bottom Left), Florence Marie José Cardona Ballester (Bottom Right).