I visited Paris concept store Merci for the first time earlier this year and was absolutely blown away – it instantly became a firm favourite. So when they got in touch to ask if I would like to interview their artistic director and curator of their new Slow Life exhibition, Daniel Rozensztroch, naturally I leapt at the chance.
Tell us more about Slow Life by Merci.
Slow Life is a very important exhibition because it emphasises a certain attitude and way of understanding life. Like many people, I am very sensitive to dramatic events that punctuate our daily lives. They can strongly change our behaviour and influence our happiness. But I refuse to slide into a completely negative vision of our society. We need small daily pleasures to survive. Slow Life is made up of these small, simple and everyday pleasures that embody a selection of aesthetically pleasing objects that are simple and charming in nature, far from the world of ostentatious luxury and distracting gadgets.
Talk me through the process of curating the exhibition.
To create Slow Life, I started with a basic concept: a model house. Similar to a jewellery box, it brings together everyday objects, from a coffee grinder or Bluetooth speaker to a natural sponge. True to my way of operating, I look for inspiration from small designers in order to discover ‘hard to find’ objects, some of which are looking for their place and meaning.
What inspires you?
My inspiration comes from everywhere: when I travel, when I walk on the street, when I am at the grocery store, when I am watching a movie… everything inspires me!
Describe a good day and a bad day in the life of Daniel Rozensztroch.
A good day is when I can disregard the bad day that may have started, for example, by discovering bad news on TV. By coming across an object that makes me dream, my mind drifts away from what I had previously seen or heard. Those are the small pleasures in life.
Why do you think the slow movement is gaining such momentum in such a fast-paced world?
All of these societal phenomena do not happen by accident. I don’t think the slow movement is a trend but a question of survival in a world in constant turmoil. We are constantly faced with aggression and we look to fight against it. Thus, movements such as the slow movements and all of its variants. I strongly believe in moderation. I think that we are in a time where it becomes reasonable. Excess is no longer trendy; it adds nothing. You realise that you can be happy by being ‘normal’. Perhaps in a few years we will need to express ourselves more strongly but today we need to get back to the basics.
What advice would you give to a new designer?
I do not know if I would give them any advice! A young designer needs to express him or herself individually. When I started my professional career, several designers gave me advice. If I had listened to them, I would not have been happy and definitely would not have been myself. You have to follow your instinct and personality. This advisor doesn’t really have any!
Further reading for the especially geeky:
- interview :: made by michael
- interview :: nordvink
- interview :: james molkenthin
- interview :: richard hardy
