Konstantin Grcic is still in possession of the very first table he designed after leaving college, which has pride of place in his new living room where it now serves as a desk. It was originally made for his mum who has since abandoned it. Grcic cherishes simplicity; he is also a guy who greatly appreciates diversity and seeks out projects
that allow him to exercise it.

German artist Tobias Rehberger calls himself a ‘catalyst’, making the creative input of others integral to his practice. Indeed his approach to his work is unusually angular. He makes no bones about actively including people, places and things in his production process or about crossing the boundaries between disciplines. This includes the unsolicited making of adverts for mega brands and posting them in the public space.

In a short space of time, Israel has managed to whip up some pretty impressive cultural institutions and develop
(with zeal!) recognition in the areas of art and design. Having now invested in an infrastructure encompassing independent landmark buildings to showcase the arts and design, while continuing to formulate events that frame
and enhance these, Israel’s efforts to engender a new kind of international attention are notable.

Introducing the power of the building. No longer does the individual need to take charge of such things as smoking too much, lack of exercise, or ill health; indeed, the office building can now even sort out its own structural repairs. This tendency is well underway to eliminating personal responsibility for one’s own well-being; the instigating of tricks in and of the architecture itself promote adaptation or exclusion, as deemed appropriate.

Sohei Nishino is a young photographer who fancies mapping cities in a more in-depth way than that of merely recording its physical contours. Having already completed 12 such maps, his process involves taking circa ten-thousand shots as raw material, narrowing the number down to less than half, and then cutting and assembling those images into a singular collage, which, when photographed, becomes the very multidimensional version he had in mind.

A big guy with a big story to tell, Ai Weiwei has had his share of discomfort over the relatively recent past. Having resumed work in his studio in China since being released from prison, he can only hope that the situation improves with time. For now, this artist of worldwide repute is able to progress his projects, if even he cannot accompany them to international destinations.

The internationally successful visual artist, Barthélémy Toguo, decided to direct his attention and resources to building an active artistic framework in his native Cameroon. Bandjoun Station is a multifaceted project that brings contemporary art into the region by way of exhibitions and residencies, while also serving as a meeting place for artists, writers, sociologists and filmmakers, allowing the locals to freely interact and partake in the exchange process.

With imm’s Pure Village 2012 in mind, the design project ‘Das Haus – Interiors on Stage’ is being premiered and Doshi Levien are in the driving seat as this year’s guest designers – bringing their personal vision and interpretations on today’s living in the form of new furniture ideas for in- and outdoor spaces. For these spreads, we’ve asked the couple to tell a short story about the items that are sure to be talked about in the corridors and leisure spaces of the upcoming fair in Cologne.