Eunique Show Affected by Erdogan

Sunday, May 10, 2015, was the last day of the 7th edition of the Eunique show in Rheinstetten near Karlsruhe. According to the trade fair organizers, a total of 14,000 people had come to visit the crafts fair, which was complemented this year by the LOFT – The Design Shopping Center special show for the first time. 55 exhibitors altogether, most of them small design labels and universities, used this new platform to present fresh and innovative design creations. “16 per cent of the visitors specifically came to see LOFT,” it says a press release. The Eunique show was affected on Sunday by a big event in the adjoining DM Arena, where the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held a speech. There were traffic jams in the morning, large crowds in front of the entrance and hails of catcalls, as well as police action against protesters. The trade fair organizers reacted to the situation by admitting all visitors free of charge, which would have been 15 euros.

Eunique Award for glass artist

The Eunique Award went to the glass artist Rike Scholle for her lighting objects inspired by nature. The nominees also included Marit Bindernagel (jewelry and table utensils), Carmen Hauser (jewelry), Alexa Lixfeld (glass objects and vessels) and Doreen Thierfelder (clothing and accessories). The following figures were published by the trade fair organizers: “About 20% of the visitors traveled between 100 and 300 km, 8% traveled a distance of more than 300 km, and 70% came from within a radius of up to 50 km. The general public accounted for 75% of the visitors, and 25% were trade visitors. Exhibitors’ sales increased by an average of 11% on the previous year: 47% of the visitors bought or placed orders at the fair.

Eunique Portraits art photography initiative

All in all, 28 craftspersons, along with their creations, had their portraits taken by our photographer Miriam Künzli. The participants were enthused by this art photography initiative right in the center of Hall 1, so there will surely be a sequel to it during the next Eunique show. Below you’ll find the first series of photos. We’ll soon be publishing more.

Marit Bindernagel and her La Bomba sugar bowl, fine silver, Tom Thumb sugar spoon, fine silver, enamel, and Entwined earrings, 925 silver

Michael Berger and his Dancing Cube kinetic ring. Stainless steel, acrylic

Patrick Rapp and his bowl with a rough rim. European ash

Representatives of Pforzheim’s Goldsmithing School, from left to right: Carla Bombardi with a pendant by Aiganysh Duisheeva, acrylic glass, copper, nickel silver, brass, Batho Gündra with brooches by Ephanie Koch, silver-plated copper, Juliane Brandes with a pendant by Kyril Kislgakov, copper, brass, lacquer, and Paula Flock with a necklace by Pia Drechsel’s graduation piece, brass, fabric