Dezeen Magazine

Hand-crafted design from across Ireland shown in Ó Exhibition at Tent London

London Design Festival 2015: the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland invited more than 20 designers and craftspeople to contribute to its Ó exhibition at Tent London (+ slideshow).

Ó Exhibition at London Design Festival 2015
ALT Table System by Aodh Furniture

With a focus on Ireland's heritage of craftsmanship, the exhibition – the council's fourth at LDF – brought together makers and designers from across the country to contribute work in stone, glass, ceramics, wood and textiles.

Ó Exhibition at London Design Festival 2015
Eamon Tobin's Traditional Irish Sciob, Foxford Woollen Mill's Atlantic Herringbone Throw, and Aodh Furniture's Aran Chair

Dublin-based Aodh showed a table with four interlinking legs that formed a cross-shaped base, and a curve-backed chair, while fellow furniture designer Donna Bates launched her new wooden Ringhaddy armchair, upholstered in hand-loomed fabric.

Ó Exhibition at London Design Festival 2015
Ringhaddy Chair by Donna Bates Design

Cillian O'Súilleabháin also showed a new piece of furniture, featuring a rectangular table joined to a chair.

Ó Exhibition at London Design Festival 2015
Courtlands by Cillian Ó Súilleabháin Furniture

BTU Studio exhibited a range of patterned glassware, created with a process similar to traditional Venetian glassblowing, while 31 Chapel Lane showed a range of organic linen materials made by weavers from across Ireland.

Ó Exhibition at London Design Festival 2015
Pouring Bowl by BTU Studio

Dublin ceramics studio Arran St East created a range of hand-thrown glazed pots, in colours that apparently reference the city's fruit and vegetable market – including cabbage, potato, parsnip, lemon, pomegranate, and pink grapefruit.

Ó Exhibition at London Design Festival 2015
Irish Linen Cushion by 31 Chapel Lane

Materials sourced from Ireland also feature in stone sculptor Helen O'Connell's bowls, which have been hand-crafted from Kilkenny limestone.

In addition to the individual pieces on display, the exhibition hosted "live micro-production spaces" which allowed visitors to observe craftspeople at work. A traditional handloom was used by Mourne Textiles to weave tweeds, while ceramicist Adam Frew used a potters wheel to hand-throw porcelain vessels.

Ó Exhibition at London Design Festival 2015
Square Bowl by Adam Frew

The exhibition took place as part of Irish Design 2015 – a year-long initiative celebrating the country's design and craft output. The Ogham Wall at the V&A, designed by Grafton Architects in partnership with Graphic Relief, was also presented by ID2015, and the council exhibited a range of work in Milan this year as well.

Ó Exhibition at London Design Festival 2015
Pot Out, Pot In by Arran Street East

"In Ireland, design and craft have long since been interfused, driven by necessity and enabled by the landscape and her natural resources," said Brian McGee, acting CEO of the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland.

Ó Exhibition at London Design Festival 2015
Crystalline by Helen O'Connell

"These traditions of craftsmanship, respect for materials and a strong sense of place inspire a new and emerging design philosophy and attitude as fresh talent enters the sector. We now have over 5,000 people working in the Irish craft sector, often located in the far off reaches of rural Ireland."

Ó Exhibition at London Design Festival 2015
Shaggy Dog Cushion by Mourne Textiles

"Ó recognises our heritage and showcases the work of those that have merged it with contemporary design thinking," added curator and exhibition designer Steven McNamara.

Ó Exhibition at London Design Festival 2015
Irish Linen Napkin by 31 Chapel Lane

Ó Design & Craft from Ireland was shown at Tent London, which ran from 24 to 27 September at the Old Truman Brewery in London, as part of London Design Festival 2015.

Ó Exhibition at London Design Festival 2015
The Ó Exhibition space at Tent London

Also on display as part of Tent London's group of country showcases was Eataipei: a collection of Taiwanese lighting and homeware design displayed alongside a series of immersive eating experiences, and an exhibition of Norwegian furniture and homeware from past and present.