The exhibition "Design at the source" initiated by the Zamek Cieszyn (Cieszyn Castle) juxtaposes craft tradition with its contemporary interpretations.
The designs in the exhibition were created on the basis of Carpathian heritage, whose agricultural economy has been associated with wool for years.
The slogan "Design at the source" associated with the undertakings of Zamek Cieszyn stands for cooperation between the craftsmen and the designers. By referring to the tradition and new ways of reading it, the initiative provides an opportunity to establish relationships, learn about the history and gain further skills. Through its "journey to the sources" the designers are discovering traditional techniques and natural materials to retell them in the language of contemporary audiences.
The exhibition presents products created under one such initiative - the Wool Design. Carpathians project, dedicated to wool. For centuries herding was the basis of the agricultural economy in the Carpathians and it shaped the material and spiritual culture of its inhabitants. Unfortunately, today the wool becomes an increasingly forgotten material - an unwanted by-product - and thus woolen products disappear. Hence the idea of inviting designers and design groups from Poland, Czech, Slovakia and Hungary, to invent original designs produced from materials from the region. Thanks to the cooperation with the craftsmen from Beskidy, the designers could learn the techniques related to processing of sheep wool, among others spinning, weaving, felting, dyeing. The designers visited workshops, met with folk artists and were hosted in local factories. As a result their designs explore the forgotten possibilities and characteristics offered by wool from Beskidy.
The concept and design of the exhibition: Robot Studio and Zamek Cieszyn