» 2009 April • Reflections on Cebu X part 1
CONSUMMATUM EST. It's finally over! I say this with a huge sigh of relief, and immediately imagine myself kicking off the killer heels, falling into a soft, warm bed on a cool, pleasantly windy evening (with the smells of gastronomic temptations wafting in from the kitchen––maybe intense spice-flavoured dishes?). Gus will have slipped in a warm bossanova beat that will carry on from the living room, and I will be faced with a momentous decision (like all decisions those who have entered Cebu X faced): to get up and eat, or to succumb to a few sweet hours of rest?
Sweet rest is definitely what I've missed the weeks prior to the show. While it's to be expected that the attendance both of the exhibitors and the visitors would definitely not equal to the numbers of prior years, that certainly doesn't mean decreasing one's standards in terms of designs or performing halfheartedly just because there's only one seat taken in the opera house, as they say.
On the contrary; the more the wheels need to turn, the more the song needs to play on! This year's show was peaceful; that is to say at least we didn't have to worry about unwanted stragglers hovering around the booths being difficult! As with most shows, however, Gus and my sister, Marian, are the ones who man the booth at the forefront. I am at the homebase, where the bigger collections, an afternoon of business and slightly-not-so-business related chats are waiting with me (and coffee, freshly brewed!) I can only ever go around during the last day, visit my friends in the industry (some of whom come all the way from somewhere else in the Visayas to show).
This year, the sentinels of the stand have been joined by Carmen, my sister, and K, my niece. The latter, in particular, has been helping me with many of the preparations, appropriations, and concoctions related to the show. Baby steps for now, but that is what we all start with; I can still remember my own crude inventions before properly assessing them with a technical perspective. Last year's show had her helping out with the Hako [»] concepts; this year an unprecedented surprise in the form of the MUGNA Nomination for Contemporary Furniture marked another year of progress. Like me, she is learning the ropes in furniture design on-the-job; her background as an English major and her exposure to other fields of communication and art is also an interesting addition to the fold.
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What other better way to welcome the end of another show's run (and the Japanese say 'お疲れ様でした!' to congratulate and encourage each other), than to hear from friends from around the world? I am very glad to know that despite the struggling currencies "of a rapidly bankrupt world" as they say, still many have positive and proactive approaches in abundance.
Recently our friends from Abaca, India, paid us a visit, and this time it was our turn to give back to them what was a wonderful experience last year. 'Karma' is also another word for wonderful recapitulations, and almost immediately coinciding with this was the publication of InsideOutside India [»] which my friend Devyani Jaykar edits. I met her during my visit to Mumbai, and besides talking about furniture and all things interior-design, she asked if her journal could feature my house in one of its spreads. There is a trend amongst designers to evoke balanced atmosphere in the space evoking tropical, down-to-earth yet homely and sharp interiors.
When it comes to my own house I simply want to create for myself a space where I can be myself. As unextraordinary as this response may be, it is truest and the sole reason why my house looks the way it does. You could say I've prepared it for Debbie, after she's home tired from playing the boss or tired of her heels and just wants to listen to music whilst relaxing in the lounge area.
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Two things to keep in mind in what my friend calls "survival mode". On the one hand, careful strategy must be applied to the managing of the books, the work systems...the "dirty job". All hands on deck; not a minute should be spent idle. On the other hand, after work hours, what to do with all the time? Open space after a tight squeeze; suddenly evenings are free from after-hour appointments, and hours stretch in a surprisingly languid manner after being cramped for so long. So what to do? Far fro distressing, I prefer to 'de-stress'; that is, to carefully analyse and recapitulate back to these "dirty jobs", and fix loose ends.
Of course, with a calming cup of tea on the side, or for that matter, a nice, slim glass of Chardonnay. And while one is at it, why not pick up a copy of the wonderful ESPACIOS book on interior design that my friend from Panama has graciously forwarded? Besides the refreshing view of South American furnishings, there is much one can learn with regards to achieving a balance between a homely space, and a lavish entertaining area.
from Espacios [»]
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Labels: cebu-x, effervescent-effusions, places-cebu
