The Awards of Pavilion of Art and Design London 2012: the new PAD Prize.

The Awards of Pavilion of Art and Design London 2012: the new PAD Prize.

David Franchi, 23rd October 2012

“an opportunity for designers to connect to the market and to the dealers”

Will Shannon, “Harvest City Landscape – Lunar Work”, 2012, © PAD Pavilion of Art and Design

London PAD Pavilion of Art and Design 2012 was a fascinating event. Doing is part in promoting new talents through the new PAD Prize, the PAD 2012 has seen also the traditional Best Stand Award, Best Contemporary Design Piece Award and the Best 20th Century Decorative Art Piece Award.

This year edition of PAD Pavilion of Art and Design has seen the creation of the PAD Prize, granted by Moët Hennessy, which was won by Will Shannon for its “Harvest City Landscape” (2012).

The PAD Prize is open to UK-based designers from all nationalities under 35 years of age, who shows an exceptional creative talent, innovative use of materials, and the ability to reflect the artistic intent of design.

Will Shannon “Harvest City Landscape” winning piece has been displayed at PAD in the fair’s foyer. “Harvest City Landscape” is a creative structure of which its masterpiece, the table “Luna Work” (2012), is made from old newspapers and recycled concrete. On the table there is a miniature silver model of “The Kiln House” (2010) another work by Shannon that mirrors a sort of fictional city, while hovering above is “NW8 pendant lamp” (2012), made from London clay. This work it is an homage to London’s dying industrial landscapes.

The winner of the PAD Pavilion of Art and Design 2012 is Will Shannon. Born in England, 1980, he lives and works in a small studio in London.

Best Stand Award, Galerie Maria Wettergren © PAD Pavilion of Art and Design

Describing his design process as “completely irrational”, Shannon says he’s a great believer in working intuitively. Will Shannon often uses discarded objects and materials.

The PAD Prize is an opportunity for designers to connect to the market and to the dealers interested in upcoming talents. PAD Pavilion of Art and Design London gives to selected designers a unique opportunity to display their work to a sophisticated, international audience, thereby encouraging new generations.

Each year other awards are given, with winners selected by a Jury composed of members chosen from among the exhibitors the PAD Pavilion of Art and Design.

This year the Best Stand Award has been won by Galerie Maria Wettergren (Paris).

Another prize the Best Contemporary Design Piece Award has been won by “Coffee Table ‘Liquid Glacial’” (2012) by Zaha Hadid a clear acrylic piece from David Gill Galleries (London). It is a bit confusing that a winner is also part of the Jury, isn’t it?

Best 20th Century Decorative Art Piece Award, Paravent Screen, Jean Prouvé from Galerie Jousse Entreprise, 1959, © PAD Pavilion of Art and Design

Last but not least, the Best 20th Century Decorative Art Piece Award this year has been won by “Paravent Screen” (1959) by Jean Prouvé from Galerie Jousse Entreprise (Paris) made of bent steel and aluminium.

PAD Pavilion of Art and Design London together with Moët Hennessy, Patron of the PAD Prize, are continuing to support the Design Fund to benefit the V&A, which donates a contemporary design piece to the permanent collection at the V&A.

For the Moët Hennessy- PAD London Prize, the selection procedure was the following: a shortlist of five designers is nominated on behalf of the Jury by an Expert Committee, composed of design curators Jane Withers (Independent Design Curator) and Claire Catterall (Director of Exhibitions & Learning, Somerset House), together with Nigel Coates (Architect, Designer & Emeritus Professor, Royal College of Art).

Each selected designer is invited to exhibit a piece representative of his work from the previous year. All five works are showcased at the fair in preparation for the Jury’s final selection.

The Moët Hennessy- PAD London Jury sits under the Honorary Presidency of renowned architect Zaha Hadid and the Presidency of Nigel

Best Contemporary Design Piece Award, Coffee Table ‘Liquid Glacial, 2012, Zaha Hadid from David Gill Galleries © PAD Pavilion of Art and Design

Coates. It is composed of luminaries from the worlds of design, art, fashion, business and communication, as follow: Janice Blackburn (Curator Contemporary Craft & Design Consultant to Sotheby’s, Freelance Writer); Michael Bruno (President, 1stdibs); David Collins (Interior Designer & Director, David Collins Studio); Jasper Conran (Fashion Designer & Chairman, The Conran Shop); Susan Crewe (Editor, House & Garden); Tom Dixon (Designer); Tania Fares (Collector); Celia Forner-Venturi (Collector and Designer); Thierry Gillier (President, Zadig & Voltaire); Allegra Hicks (Fashion & Textile Designer); Carlos Mota (International Style Editor, Architectural Digest); Christophe Navarre (President, Moët Hennessy); Alexia Niedzielski (Luxury Brands Consultant & Fashion Editor); Jan Olesen (Director, Mario Testino Company); Karla Otto (Fashion Public Relations); Yana Peel (Director, Design Fund to Benefit the V&A); Julia Peyton-Jones (Director, Serpentine Gallery); Elizabeth Saltzman (Contributing Editor, Vanity Fair); Francis Sultana (Interior Decorator); Julian Treger (Collector); Elizabeth von Guttman (Publisher & Editor, Industrie Magazine, Founder, Ever Manifesto); and Jean-Michel Wilmotte (Architect).

PAD Pavilion of Art and Design London 2012, at Berkeley Square, Mayfair.

From 10th October to 14th October 2012.