supergraph on next weekend
The countdown to Supergraph has reached single digits, with just one week until hordes of design-savvy folk descend on Melbourne's Royal Exhibition Building.
Get excited, frankie friends! The countdown to the Supergraph contemporary art fair has reached single digits, with just one week until hordes of design-savvy folk descend on Melbourne's Royal Exhibition Building.
Stop by our stall and you can nab limited edition frankie tea towels, issue 58 of the mag (due out Monday!), or try your hand at whipping up some cute as a button '50s-inspired badges. And don't forget to say howdy-doo!
Before it kicks off, we had a wee chat with the brains behind the whole shebang, event director Mikala Tai. Have a read below, then grab yourself a ticket here.
What is the Supergraph concept? Supergraph is the place to buy fantastic design at a friendly price. Occurring over three days, Supergraph is a fiesta of design, print and illustration that will transform the Royal Exhibition Building into a place to snap up a piece of art and learn from your design crush.
Every work has been handpicked by the Supergraph team, and with art starting at just $30 we hope that everyone will go home with a new print. But, more importantly, we hope that everyone that visits Supergraph creates a little piece themselves, whether it is at a masterclass with the Jacky Winter Group, creating a pinata with Kitiya Palaskas or decorating a melamine Superplate like you did in primary school.
What makes it different to other art and design fairs? While other fairs tend to be a bit more about pop-up retail spaces, we are creating pop-up studio spaces. Every artist, gallery or collective showing with us will be doing more than simply exhibiting their works - they will be creating on site. You will be able to see some screenprinting in action, some letterpress occurring on-site and even sit for a speed portrait. Supergraph is as much about ensuring you go home with a great work as it is about celebrating the act of creating and making.
What are your thoughts on Australia's design scene at the moment? I am constantly excited by the Australian design scene. But, what is really exciting within the industry is the growth of collaboration. The partnerships and mash-ups that are occurring are stretching the limits of design and upping the ante when it comes to creativity. We have been lucky enough at Supergraph to have pitched some of our crazy ideas to suppliers - such as the cardboard gurus at All of This - who have come back not only nailing our brief, but taking it to the next level. It is collaborative moments like these where the magic in design and creativity happens.
Why is great design so important? Design is important because it is so intrinsic to our everyday. Great design is important because it makes the everyday better.
What are you proudest of with Supergraph? Tough question! I think it would have to be everyone that has come on board in our inaugural year and committed themselves to making it a success. Over these last few weeks we have been pretty excited to see the works arriving at our collection venue, and sneaky peeks at works in progress on social media. It has made the whole team at Supergraph pretty proud that people have embraced the concept and allowed it to fan their creativity.
Where can we find out more information on the event? At our very yellow website supergraph.com.au!
We have five double VIP passes to give away to Supergraph's opening night party on February 14th. To get your hands on one, shoot an email here with your name and address and let us know why you deserve to head along.