As part of its “design month” in October, Mexico City hosted numerous events including Design Week Mexico that celebrated great women in design from around the globe—one of whom included New York-based interior designer Laura Kirar.
“I chose to be involved in this international show because it celebrates great women in design, demonstrates a clear evolution of Mexican design, and also honors design from around the globe,” said Kirar, who owns a home and spends time in Merida, Mexico. “The owner of Blend [a showroom in Mexico] approached me to participate in the programs and given my strong physical connection to Mexico and the fact that my products for Arteriors are also sold there, it made sense to participate.”
Laura Kirar at Design Week Mexico
Among the 103 events were special lectures from an international A-list panel of women including Kirar, product designer Nani Marquina, architect and interior designer Rossana Hu, product designer Bethan Wood, VP of Design Within Reach Sandra Hansel, architect Tatiana Bilbao, product and interior designer Marie-Aurore Stiker-Matral and architect Sara Topelson.
Kirar's keynote discussion
Kirar’s keynote focused on her inspiration for products and interiors, from global travel to her special connection to Mexican craft. “So many parts of Mexico inspire me,” she said. “Mexican design, architecture, the flora, and the people have a uniqueness that demonstrates modernity in classic design. I am especially inspired by Mexican artists’ use of their indigenous materials, colors and techniques. My goal is to create something new and modern by merging native traditions of Mexico with my classic design aesthetic.”
Kirar also spoke at the Modern Art Museum and debuted a fine art piece on opening night titled, "Liar—Corazon Espejo" or "Liar—Mirror Heart,” describing the characteristics of the massive copper locket.
Liar—Corazon Espejo
“It is a locket in the shape of a heart—the shape is more anatomical than idealized,” she explained. “A locket, an object of devotion and sentimentality is meant to hold memories and mementos—photographs of loved ones, poems, notes—in Victorian times lockets held a lock of hair of a dearly departed child or lover etc. This heart, opened, reveals two things, the left side reveals the anatomical chambers and on the right side, a mirror. Both halves are asking us to look at the surface of ourselves and contemplate the inside of ourselves—the two often being in conflict yet part of one whole.”
“Art and design are intricately linked in my aesthetic,” Kirar continued. “Whether it be inspiration or installation, one cannot exist without the other in my work. It was my intention to provoke interaction and contemplation with the knowledge that anyone willing to participate would invoke their own thoughts, memories and conflicts. The heart is meant to be shown closed with an invitation for the viewer to interact, to unlock and open the heart.”
Afterwards, festivities honoring Kirar were held in the Blend showroom as well as in the Arteriors showroom, where guests were able to view her latest collection of lighting and accessories.
“I was honored by the interest garnered by my designs and future projects after my keynote session,” said Kirar. “I also met so many fascinating artists and designers from around the globe, and I look forward to hopefully collaborating with some of them in the future.”
