Integrating Art & Technology as 2019 London Design Festival Showcases Innovative Design Power

16 September 2019, London: Based on the mutual recognition of design philosophy and aesthetics, OPPO has teamed up with the acclaimed Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, to present a large outdoor installation ‘Bamboo (竹) Ring: Weaving into Lightness’, which is installed in the John Madejski Garden at the V&A Museum for the duration of London Design Festival (14th – 22nd September).  OPPO will be the only Asian technology brand to partner on a large outdoor installation at the V&A during London Design Festival 2019.

Kengo Kuma said:

“Working on this project with OPPO has been a very interesting experience. OPPO London Design Centre share a mutual interest and passion for the exploration of the integration of technology and natural materials. Using both bamboo and carbon fibre in the installation allows us to create an installation that fits into the landscape around it. OPPO likes to push the boundaries in innovative design to allow users to enjoy the beauty of technology, and this is how I create my work; the constant exploration of new materials, forms and environments. ‘Bamboo (竹) Ring: Weaving into Lightness’ is an adventurous exploration of this topic.”

Jintong Zhu, Head of OPPO London Design Centre, added:

“We are very excited about our co-creation with the incredible Kengo Kuma. For OPPO London Design Centre, one of the focuses is to explore the future of design and technology, and how we can create technology that adds value to our day to day life. We hope that this installation helps to capture people’s imagination and promote our enthusiasm for cutting-edge design to develop new technology.”

Using pioneering technology and futuristic design, OPPO also introduces innovative creativity through an immersive experience called ‘Essence of Discovery’[1] that is located on Baker Street, London. The installation showcases the possibilities of achieving a more harmonious relationship between humans and technology, and explores the science of crafting products that blend beauty, intelligence and material tactility. Through the experimental design, OPPO London Design Centre will continue the exploration into new product areas, lifestyle trends and experiences, outside of their work with smartphones.

Jintong Zhu said:

“The installation, ‘Essence of Discovery’ is inspired by our research on the boundaries in product design and we hope that people enjoy interacting with our experience and take away a greater understanding of our design philosophy. As a new hub for OPPO in the field of design and art, the aim for OPPO London Design Centre is to explore the integration of technology and art through in-depth research on global aesthetics of design. We believe the London Design Festival is a perfect platform to introduce our design power to the world, and we will continue to provide cutting-edge information for OPPO design.”

The ‘Essence of Discovery’ installation can be viewed at 35 Baker Street throughout London Design Festival, from 14th – 22nd September.

‘Bamboo (竹) Ring: Weaving into Lightness’ is located at V&A in the John Madejski Garden and is open from 14th – 22nd September.

All photography, filming and editing by Michael Semp, Louis Kemsley, Claudia Kaye, Callum O'Sullivan, Sinta Soekadarova, Richard Adamson, Alex Cooper & Matteo Passigato.

For any further information, please contact Andriana or Derrick at Sassy:
andriana@sassyfilms.com |  +44 (0) 77661 255 487 |  +44 (0) 203 917 1767
derrick@sassyfilms.com    |  +44 (0) 7585 006 840   |  +44 (0) 203 917 1767

About OPPO

OPPO is a leading global smart device brand. Since the launch of its first smartphone - “Smiley Face” - in 2008, OPPO has been in relentless pursuit of the perfect synergy of aesthetic satisfaction and innovative technology. Today, OPPO provides a wide range of smart devices spearheaded by the Find and Reno series. Beyond devices, OPPO provides its users with the ColorOS operating system and internet services like OPPO Cloud and OPPO+. OPPO operates in more than 40 countries and regions, with 6 Research Institutes and 4 R&D Centers worldwide, as well as an International Design Center in London. OPPO’s more than 40,000 employees are dedicated to creating a better life for customers around the world.

About London Design Festival

Established in 2003 by Sir John Sorrell CBE and Ben Evans CBE, London Design Festival celebrates and promotes London as the design capital of the world. London Design Festival has since earned the reputation as a key calendar moment of London’s autumn creative season, alongside London Fashion Week, Frieze Art Fair and the London Film Festival, attracting the greatest thinkers, practitioners, retailers and educators to the capital, in a citywide celebration.

[1] Inspired by the deconstruction of the new OPPO logo in a series of portals and totems, the installation allows the audience to interact through sight, hearing, touch and nature to feel the blend of technology and nature. Each portal and totem will explore a future interaction with technology including: Vision, Natural Tech, Vital, Human Language, Gesture and Tactility. For example, visitors will be able to use augmented reality to gain a new perspective on the physical space, through a digital lens.  OPPO uses space as a creator and brings to life the future of technology design from aesthetics, intelligence and materials, to find the ‘Essence of Design’.