Since its inception in 2013, the Weimar-based research lab Space for Visual Research has gradually enlarged its operations to inspire a lively exchange with students and like-minded practitioners. A fundamental part of this endeavor is an ongoing series of exhibitions, lectures, and workshops, which have been hosted by universities and cultural institutions across the globe.
On the occasion of the Design Biennale 2019, a team around SfVR founder Markus Weisbeck was invited to Gwangju, South Korea, where workshop participants were encouraged to repurpose botanic elements from the gardens of Gwangju. The latter were processed by analogue means and then reworked into graphic compositions. A selection of different papers, foils, and fabrics was added to build bricolages and spatial installations in which different light situations and material properties could be explored. Aside from the student workshop, the SfVR worked with children for the first time in Gwangju. Inspired by the iconic geometric shapes commonly associated with the Bauhaus, self-made stencils served as tools for a collective composition exercise that build upon fundamental Bauhaus ideals while engaging the kids in a playful way. The SfVR was also selected to present a range of projects as part of an academic showcase at the Biennale.