Yiannis Ghikas at Saint–Étienne International Design Biennial

Greek industrial designer, Yiannis Ghikas will participate with his BASIC I & II side tables at "L'Europe des Designers " part of FLIGHT NUMBER TEN exhibition during the Saint–Étienne International Design Biennial in Saint–Étienne (FRANCE) from 15-30 November 2008. The FLIGHT NUMBER TEN is curated by Chloé Heyraud. "L'Europe des Designers" highlights European designers through innovative ideas which could turn customs upside down. This presentation is put together in partnership with Culturesfrance as part of the European Cultural Season.

ABOUT YIANNIS GHIKAS
Yiannis Ghikas was born in 1969 in Greece, a few kilometers out of Athens and he was an 18-year-old student of informatics at the Athens University of Economics and Business, when he realized that he wanted to become an industrial designer. So It took him a long time to become a student again, this time in product design. His official website holds his name under the title"Concepts on a waiting list", because according to his words "most of my ideas are waiting to come to life".

Describe yourself in five words.
Impatient, reliable, social, controversial, obsessed
If you could be a different nationality, what would it be?
I would keep the great Greek mother and I would add a Scandinavian father to balance the Mediterranean nature, so a mixed one.
What’s your favorite movie?
It couldn’t be just one. I’ll name a few that stayed in my mind for a long time: Lars von trier’s “breaking the waves”, Gus van sant’s: “Gerry” and Wang kar wai’s “In the mood for love”.
What kind of music you like to listen?
I like many completely different kinds of music. Quality is the key. An example of a timeless music I really love is R. Straus’s “Vier letzte lieder”.
What is your favorite design material?
I love natural oak and white porcelain.
What is the most expensive piece of furniture in your house?
A pair of Eames LCW chairs and a Citterio’s 6 drawer mobil box.
What inspires you?
Everything I have experienced.
You are going for a weekend “somewhere” and you have to invite seven famous people, dead or alive to join you. Where would you go and who would they be?
I would invite Manos Hadjidakis, Issey Miyake, Akira Kurosawa, Dawn Upshaw, Joep van Lieshout and the Bouroullec brothers at their floating house.
Are you afraid of the future?
Yes I am afraid of the future concerning the climatological changes and the consequences of people’s political inactivity.
Describe me the perfect day?
Exploring an unknown city, sharing the experience with people I love.
What does space mean to you?
A necessity
Luxury is?
Dissipation of resources
Design is?
Design is an applied art rich in cultural content

"BASIC I " Side Table © Yiannis Ghikas

BASIC II "Side Table © Yiannis Ghikas
Basic I & II side tables provide us with a small-basic surface to rest everyday necessities, a cup, a book, a cd cover etc. Basic I comes in two versions. In one off them Ghikas uses the base on the floor-level as a tray-container. He has always considered the floor as a surface suitable for laying things. Basic II also uses the space under, this time to accommodate the recent issues of magazines, newspapers etc before their way to recycling. BasicI & II prototypes are made from powder coated 5mm metal sheet
Dimensions:
Basic I: width30cm, length 60cm, height version a 45cm, version b 55cm.
Basic II: width40cm, length 44cm, height 45cm

(photo © studio M.com / Lambros Mentzos)

A REVIEW TO YIANNIS GHIKAS Concepts

"PEEL BOTTLES" © Yiannis Ghikas
Peel bottles is a line of ceramics in different stages of "peeling". The peeling may start from top to bottom or even reciprocally.There is a difference in texture and shape between the rind and the internal layer. Usually the exterior surface, the first one someone pays attention to, is smoother and more pleasing to the eye, while sometimes the reverse can happen…
Prototypes made by Bosa, Italy and were exhibited at HANDLED WITH CARE, exhibition of contemporary ceramic works, curated by designboom 19-23/9/2007 at designersblock, London, UK

"PILE ME Up" magazines/newspapers rack © Yiannis Ghikas

"BEND series" © Yiannis Ghikas

"SPIDERBOWL" fruitbowl © Yiannis Ghikas

"MIX IT UP" tiles © Yiannis Ghikas
Mix it up, Tiles(2004) "Positive or negative? Round or square? Male or female? Full or empty? Raised or sunken? Glossy or matt? You don't have to choose, there is everything. You can even mix it up."
This tiles' collection consists of 6 different patterns (plus a plain one and few other that helps to finish the repeat). Each pattern can be raised or sunken, the shape can be full or just the outline, can be glossy or matt. You can use all of them or some of them. The combination of these different patterns creates up to 21 different symbols; some of them have a certain meaning. Let's assign a meaning to the rest and if we wish let's keep it just for us…
Simple software could be developed that given the dimensions of the surface we want to cover helps to create our own design and calculates the number of the tiles of each pattern we need for this.