Vanja Bazdulj produces beautiful, irregular and imperfect furniture and objects. Find out about Vanja’s unique design vision in the next of the Pargy Tent interviews for London Design Festival.
Hello Vanja and welcome to Pargy.
Please tell us a bit more about what Vanja Bazdulj produces on a daily basis!
Hello Pargy! Well, on a daily basis I’m doing lots of research and sketching, growing things in my head. These days I’m making Rough&Ready pieces, Wonky pots and regularly my mind is wandering off to other things I want to be making in the future.
I really love your wonky pots – how did these first come about?!
Thank you. Ever since I started with my Rough&Ready Collection I knew I wanted to make smaller objects in the same spirit. So after staying in my head for a long time they materialised. I was following the same principle of creating characters, like with the chairs. For me it is fun creating all of my objects and it is even playful, so I hope that reflects in the outcome.
You are very much preoccupied with objects which have imperfections. Where do you think this fascination comes from?
I suppose it has to do with my character and what I find aesthetically pleasing. I like to work fast and I’m not a stickler for detail and it’s only natural that I wouldn’t be making objects that focused on perfections. The aesthetics that draw me in are what I call accidental aesthetics; piles of stuff you see on the streets, pipes on buildings, layers on urban walls, tree bark and these grown things that just become beautiful in certain circumstances but without an intended finished outcome in mind. And that’s how I work. Of course I know what I’m making, and I have a rough idea of the outcome, but lots of it is accidental and that’s the best part. It did take a while to find my desired setting and what feels super natural for me to work with and it’s definitely hands on making and provoking aesthetics. But I suppose the influence of my architectural background will always be there, especially with the folding of sheets for the Rough&Ready collection. I will always remember my MA tutor who said: ‘… but you’re not drawing furniture, it’s houses!’
Do you have anything lined up for Tent this year that you would like to tell us more about?
Well besides a couple of pieces from Rough&Ready and the Wonky pots, I’m showing a few lighting pieces, which are still in the making and which I haven’t even photographed yet. I am very excited to get the feedback on all the new items.
Is your work available for sale, and if so where can it be bought?
All of the work is available for sale, and can be bought directly from me. I am planning on a web shop soon too, which will make things a bit easier. But otherwise all the info can be acquired through info@vanjabazdulj.com
What future projects do you have coming up that you are particularly excited about?
I am very excited about a commission from Mr. Keith Johnson of Anthropologie New York, which I’m starting on after the festival, so do check out my webpage for updates.
Tent London 2011 and its associated events are part of London Design Festival and takes place 22-25 September at the Old Truman Brewery, Brick Lane, London, E1 6QL, UK.
[...] year at Tent London (as part of the London Design Festival). I’d already interviewed her on PARGY and shown some pictures of her incredible Wonky Pots. She mentioned to me back then that the store [...]