Ingenious Barter

Stefano Tonchi, Teresita Fernandez, David Adjaye and Peter Adjaye at Design Miami's Design Talks

Tonight’s Design Miami/ Design Talk hosted by W Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief Stefano Tonchi was entitled Ingenious Barter. It brought together Designer of the Year David Adjaye, conceptual artist Teresita Fernandez and music composer Peter Adjaye to discuss creative collaborations that cross disciplines.

David and Teresita collaborated at Princeton University where David teaches an architecture class that enlists artists to stir the “creative pot” with his students. And as for Peter, well, he is David’s brother and the two have been collaborating for years. Peter composes music specifically for the spaces and buildings David designs.

“Our exchange is a bit genetic,” explains David. “I make things and I ask my brother to respond to them through his creative process. And when he makes music for me, I am always surprised by what he can teach me about my work. Peter made me realize there’s a sonic landscape.”

Designer of the Year David Adjaye with his site specific piece Genesis

For David’s site specific installation at Design Miami/ entitled Genesis. Peter composed a five minute piece that visitors can download to enhance their experience of the space. “I looked at the space as a journey with a beginning, a middle and an end,” explained Peter. It’s called Three Views of Light. (In the Design Miami/ show guide, visitors can scan a QR code for a free download of the composition.)

“It is important to have a connection with who you are working with and to really appreciate their work for it to be successful,” noted Peter.

“As creative thinkers we are hard wired to collaborate,” said Teresita. “You need a whole system of support to be creative not only to make the work but to give it context.”

David likened being an architect to being a conductor. “With architecture and most makers, we are always in collaborations both intellectually and to actually produce things. One acts like a conductor making sure all the pieces come together.”

When Stefano asked playfully what would be a dream collaboration. Peter joked, “I want to compose the music first and then have my brother design a building for it.” Visit: http://musicforarchitecture.com