Attention design-lovers: we’re here to help you cozy up to the action at DesignTO, Canada’s largest annual design festival, which takes place from January 20 to 29 at various venues across the city.
The Drake Hotel will feature REIGN, a digital projection by Victoria Fard, whose work explores themes of nature, culture and heritage through the use of mind-bendingly intricate 3-D imagery. Projected in the Sky Yard and Room 111, REIGN is a series of glass sculptures frozen in time to accentuate the duality of nature’s strength and fragility. We caught up with Victoria to discuss her dream collaborations, her work + more.
+ WHEN SOMEONE SAYS TORONTO, WHAT’S THE FIRST THING THAT COMES TO MIND?
A place of mixed cultures. Toronto has been my home for many years. It has been a joy getting to meet and collaborate with people from different backgrounds and walks of life.
+ WHAT WORLD WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE TOMORROW?
I have many hopes and changes I would like to see in the world. But perhaps thinking closer to home – here in Toronto – it would be a world that provides more time, aid and support towards our homeless.
+ WHAT ERA WOULD YOU WANT TO TRANSPORT YOURSELF TO AND WHY?
Many! Though during our winter months it would be to transport to Barcelona, Spain in between the late 19th and early 20th centuries during the blossoming of Gaudi’s vibrant and organic forms, visible in his architecture and furniture designs.
+ WHAT’S YOUR GO TO KARAOKE SONG?
“I will always love you” by Whitney Houston
+ WHAT THEMES DO YOU PURSUE IN YOUR WORK?
My art is deeply rooted in my Persian and Filipino heritage. My work explores the themes of nature and culture with the hope of preserving them. Through my background in architecture and digital technologies, I fuse art with technology with the aim of connecting people through immersive forms of storytelling.
+ WHAT’S YOUR DREAM COLLABORATION AND WHY?
Besides my appreciation for art, I have a deep love for music – from the classical to the funk and soul of the 60s to the contemporary EDM – and it would be a fascinating experience to create and collaborate new work with passionate musicians.
To cap things off on January 29, from 5-7 pm, join exhibitors, speakers and design fans at DesignTO’s wrap party, held in our very own Sky Yard. RSVP here.
Bonus: festival-goers enjoy 20% off rooms when using the code ‘DESIGNTO’