ortamiklos on ‘improvisational design’ for friedman benda’s design in dialogue
DESIGN IN DIALOGUE: INTERVIEW WITH ortamiklos
on april 1, 2020, new york gallery friedman benda initiated a series of online interviews aimed at connecting individuals across the world with leading voices in the creative field. design in dialogue is a conversational program hosted alternately by curator and historian glenn adamson and designer stephen burks that engages with designers, makers, critics, and curators as they reflect on their careers and creative processes. against the backdrop of COVID-19 and global lockdowns, the conversations are held virtually on zoom for 1 hour for anyone in the world to tune in to, and include a participatory Q&A with the audience in attendance. friedman benda has since presented more than 90 episodes, each offering unparalleled insight into the sensibilities, musings, and memories of today’s creative protagonists. see our recent feature of tom dixon on ‘creative salvage’ and ebitenyefa baralaye on ‘the encoded nature of faces’.
on april 22, 2020, design in dialogue welcomed creative duo ortamiklos, formed by designers leo orta and victor miklos andersen at the design academy eindhoven in 2015. ortamiklos’ process originates in improvisation and spontaneity, with many of their ideas beginning in guerrilla performances. ‘performance was really a way for us to take people out of their comfort zone, because design for us is not necessarily about pleasant things, it should cater to all kinds of different human traits,’ explains the duo during the interview with glenn adamson. the work of orta and miklos, who decided to separate this past year to develop their individual studio practices, is currently on view in friedman benda’s exhibition ‘relations’.
watch the full video interview at the top of the page, and learn more about the work of ortamiklos and their exhibition at friedman benda below.
ortamiklos, stark effekt and yellow foot, 2021, courtesy of friedman benda and ortamiklos | all images by bertrand huet unless stated otherwise
‘ortamiklos: relations’ at friedman benda
on view until march 19, 2022, at friedman benda‘s NY gallery, ‘relations’ offers an in-depth look into the creative duo ortamiklos and the designers leo orta and victor miklos andersen. divided into three separate sections, the exhibition presents works by ortamiklos alongside pieces from orta and miklos andersen’s independent studios. upending the conventional design processes, the duo’s creative approach can be defined by a fluid view towards design—blurring the line between digital and reality, performance and function, tangible and intangible. their formative years were spent working collaboratively while developing their individual practices—sharing ideologies and developing a signature sculptural language. ‘relations’ looks at how the two designers evolved while working as part of a collective, and how that experience continues to shape their approach since leaving the partnership.
the exhibition brings together the last pieces created by ortamiklos, including lighting, desks and chair sets that symbolize the culmination of their approach in expressing theatricality in material forms. since dissolving the partnership, orta established his own studio in les moulins, france, and miklos andersen established his workshop in jyderup, denmark. ‘relations’ also features works created by each designer independantly. orta’s work questions the existential nature of being human and examines the social and emotional bonds humans create within their communities and environments. meanwhile, miklos andersen’s practice is rooted in an experimental and conceptual approach towards design that actively questions existing behavioral norms. the exhibition explores themes of identity, collaboration, and evolution, reflecting on the role of the collective in the design field through a unique lens.
ortamiklos, arbitrary bouquet, 2021, courtesy of friedman benda and ortamiklos
ortamiklos, volcanic splash, 2021, courtesy of friedman benda and ortamiklos
ortamiklos, deep sea, 2021, courtesy of friedman benda and ortamiklos
