discovering valencia's world design capital & feria hábitat 2022

jaime hayon’s first large-scale retrospective exhibition

The World Design Capital Valencia 2022 pays tribute to the endless creativity of one of its most international ambassadors, Jaime Hayon. In the Ferreres – Goerlich hall of the center, the venue becomes the first large-scale retrospective exhibition on the work of the Spanish artist-designer to be held in Spain. With works never seen before, Jaime Hayon: InfinitaMente opens its doors to the public, offering an experience of the creator’s creative and personal process through a variety of media. 

As the Spanish city celebrated its designation as World Design Capital 2022, Feria Hábitat València, the long-established furniture, lighting and décor fair also staged its biggest edition of the last decade. From 20^th -23^rd September, 603 companies and brands came together to comprise a powerful offering – from kitchen equipment, to textiles and upholstery – attracting professionals in the industry both in Spain and worldwide. designboom had the honor to attend, highlighting below some of the most eminent works and products that caught our eye.

Jaime Hayon at the exhibition | image © Brava

all images courtesy of World Design Capital Valencia 2022

Organized and produced by the Consorci de Museus de la Comunitat Valenciana and the CCCC, Jaime Hayon: InfinitaMente opens its doors as it takes place within the framework of the official program of World Design Capital Valencia 2022. Until April 16^th, 2023, the public gets to witness the artist‘s first large-scale showcase of his most emblematic works, including pieces never before presented in Spain. The immersive journey unravels through his personal universe and creative process through materials, tools, inspiration and references. 

‘In the year in which Valencia is World Design Capital, we could not leave out a tribute to the work of Jaime Hayon, one of the most outstanding creators in our country, whose work combines design and art, craftsmanship and industry, showing, from Valencia, the presence of design in people’s daily lives, in everyday and decorative objects, and how artistic pieces can reach all citizens,’ says the director of the Consorci de Museus and the CCCC, José Luis Pérez Pont.

Jaime Hayon: InfinitaMente opens its doors until April 16th, 2023 | image © Brava

the exhibition is showcasing a selection of works produced over the 20 years | image © Brava

‘Jaime Hayon: InfinitaMente’ showcases work never seen before

Jaime Hayon: InfinitaMente is showcasing a selection of works produced over the 20 years of Hayon Studio, including limited-edition pieces both in the fields of illustration and art, as well as products for companies. The show also includes artwork that has never been presented in the country before, such as ‘Masquemask’ —an exhibition of 7 large tapestry-masks designed for the LODZ Design Museum—,’Mesamachine’ or ‘Mediterranean Digital Baroque’ —one of the designer’s first exhibitions—, as well as large format paintings and sculptures. 

‘We have organized and produced six exhibitions to celebrate this year in which Valencia holds the World Design Capital status. One of the highlights is presented today, with an exhibition that reviews and recognizes the work of Jaime Hayon, one of the most prominent creators of our country and a benchmark of Spanish design internationally, who has chosen to live in Valencia and locate here his studio’s base of operations. The Centre del Carme brings together for the first time the entire creative universe of the artist in a large format exhibition that offers a broad tour of his career, ranging from paintings to sculpture, furniture, ceramics, glass, tapestries, graphics or glass,’ adds director José Luis Pérez Pont.

the exhibition features limited-edition works both in the fields of illustration and art | image © Brava

the show includes artwork that has never been presented in the country before, like Masquemask | image © Brava

Glass and ceramics, major players in Hayon’s work, are the main focus of two of the rooms, whose core themes are creativity applied to the material and the search for different expressive tools. The central section is dedicated to the creative process behind pieces of furniture, lighting and accessories of a commercial nature, highlighting the behind the scenes of the products and revealing freely the references, sources of inspiration and details of both industrial and handcrafted production, which both enrich their story and put the pieces in context. Also on display are sketchbooks, notebooks and drawings, as well as various objects, samples and prototypes of the artist’s most personal works.

creativity is applied to the material while in search for different expressive tools | image © Brava

designboom visits Feria Habitàt Valencia 2022

The city of Valencia and, by extension, the Valencian Community, is a land of creativity. designboom attended Feria Habitàt Valencia 2022 to explore the work of Spanish design, architecture, interior design and illustration professionals. Exhibited across eight halls on two levels, 603 companies and brands from countries worldwide exhibited their long-established furniture, lighting and décor to celebrate World Design Capital 2022. 

HIGHLIGHTS: from philippe starck to kengo kuma

For Andreu World, celebrated designers Phillipe Starck and Patricia Urquiola presented their new collections. Through a presentation, Starck talked the crowds through the development of his latest, 100% sustainable design. LZF presented its new organic-looking, handcrafted lamps that support the concept of circular economy as they are made with only recyclable materials. Four scenes were revealed at the Estudio Sancal pavilion, showcasing the brand’s versatility to materiality, colors, playful geometries and compositions. 2022 novelties by Gandia Blasco and Diabla did not fail to catch the eye as the products were scenographically placed in a space designed by the renowned Japanese architect Kengo Kuma. Vondom took warm comfort outdoors with its Vineyard Collection by Ramón Esteve, while Vergés, amongst others, made way for its Bogart collection by Manel Molina Studio, which featured a contemporary review of the traditional enea chair and lounge seat. 

LZF collection 2022 – Omma 4 leaves designed by Eli Gutiérrez

Philippe Starck at the Andreu World presentation at the fair

each of the 4 scenes of Estudio Sancal represents an aesthetic approach to show the chameleon-like essence of the brand

Onsen composition with sectional sofa by Francesco Meda & David Quincoces for Gandia Blasco

Grill is the result of the first product design collaboration between Mut Design and Diabla

Vondom’s Vineyard Collection designed ad hoc by Ramón Esteve

Manel Molina Studio creates the Bogart collection for Vergés, reviewing the traditional enea chair

project info:

exhibition name: Jaime Hayon: InfinitaMente

artist: Jaime Hayon /@jaimehayon

organization/production: Consorci de Museus de la Comunitat Valenciana; Centre del Carme Cultura Contemporània  (CCCC)

location: Ferreres – Goerlich hall of CCCC, Valencia

date: September 22, 2022 – April 16, 2023