Design Shanghai 2014
Design Shanghai is China’s premier showcase of contemporary furniture and home design. The inaugural event brings the great designers of the west to China.
The event sees more than 150 globally renowned design brands presented to the Chinese audience, 90% of which have never been seen before in China. Brands such as Magis, Flos, Fritz Hansen, Alessi, Moooi and Tom Dixon are all partaking in Design Shanghai.
fluoro spoke to Mr. Gu Zhihua, The General Manager of Shanghai Art Fair International Exhibition Co. and founder of Design Shanghai, about the event and how it brings the characteristics of Western design to China.
(f) What prompted you to establish Design Shanghai?
什么促使您主办设计上海？
(GZ) Shanghai is a well-known metropolis. With the development of economy, the cultural industry has also grown. We started Shanghai Art Fair [another event headed by Zhihua] in 1997 to bring international art into Shanghai and to promote communication between the domestic and international art markets.
In recent years many local design brands have come into our eyes, as people not only pursue the usability of household items, but also ask for good design. We hope that the domestic design industry will communicate with international leading design brands and bring high quality design to China.
(GZ)上海是中外驰名的大都市，随着经济的发展，文化产业也随之兴起。我们早在1997年就开始举办上海艺博会，把国外的艺术氛围引入上海，促进国内外艺术的交流与分享。近年来国内本土的设计品牌逐渐发展，人们的对家居生活的追求也不仅仅停留在可用性上，而逐渐开始追求设计感。我们希望通过建立设计上海这个平台使国内的设计产业与国际领先的设计品牌有所交流，也给大众带来高质量的家居设计作品。
(f) By bringing an array of international brands to the event, how will Design Shanghai create dialogue about global design?
(通过引进众多国际品牌参与展会，设计上海将如何制造关于全球设计的话题呢？
(GZ) The theme of Design Shanghai 2014 is ‘West meets East’. The international brands on show present a diverse range of classic and contemporary works from objects for the living room to the kitchen. We are aiming to show visitors the concept of western design through this fair. We believe people will feel the visual shock from the pieces on display and it will stimulate both professionals and visitors to discuss global design.
(GZ)首届设计上海的主题是“西方遇到东方”，我们本次邀请诸多国际设计品牌，范围涵盖当代到古典，客厅到厨房，目的就是把以前鲜有机会接触的西方设计概念通过展览的形式集中带给大家，展会期间在现场还有许多设计论坛和活动，相信展会带来的视觉冲击能激发国内设计的专业人士及观展大众对全球设计的讨论与交流。
(f) How will Design Shanghai bring new perspective to the ‘West meets East’ concept?
设计上海如何给“西方遇到东方”这个主题带来新观点？
(GZ) The content of Design Shanghai is predominantly about home design. Home design has wide differences in style and materials between the west and east. We want to explore these differences and bring western design styles and ideas into China, to motivate new inspiration. Contemporary home design sees furniture that is designed not only for use, but also to be an artwork.
(GZ)设计上海的内容主要是围绕家居设计，众所周知东西方的家庭从家具到装饰品，从风格到材料都各有特色，差异很大。正是这种巨大的差异激起我们的兴趣去了解，引入西方的设计风格和理念，期望在文化差异的碰撞下激发新的灵感。现代家居不仅是作为家具存在，附上设计理念使家居用品具有艺术品的意义，我们期待在展会上看到令人惊喜的艺术品。
(f) How do you hope this festival will further establish Shanghai as a hub for design in China and the world?
您希望这个盛会如何进一步把上海打造成中国乃至全球的设计中心？
(GZ) Design Shanghai is the first large-scale home design exhibition in Shanghai with support from Shanghai government. We hope we can bring inspiration to domestic design brands and motivate a passion for home design, while also promoting the development of the domestic design industry.
We are confident to establish Shanghai as a hub for design as we are giving an opportunity for overseas designers to enter the Chinese market, and at the same time allowing our domestic design to be on show.
(GZ)设计上海是上海首个大型的家居设计展览会，并得到上海政府的大力支持。希望能给国内的设计品牌带来灵感与合作，激发业内外对设计的热情，推动设计产业链的发展。上海的经济发展有目共睹，在经济发展的同时文化产业也需要齐头并进，我们有信心把设计上海打造成上海重要的设计交流平台，使国际设计品牌有机会了解中国市场，也使国内本土的设计能走上国际舞台。
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Design Shanghai takes place at Shanghai Exhibition Centre until Sunday 2 March 2014.
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