Oddly Satisfied – Forward Festival Munich 2019
Over 2.000 visitors, 2 days, 1 location, more than 30 speakers and a lot of oddness – that was Forward Festival 2019 in Munich and we’re oddly satisfied.
Last week, creatives from all over the world mingled in Munich to listen to talks, join interactive workshops like Japanese Bookbinding and celebrate the 5th anniversary of Forward Festival with us. Over 2.000 visitors enjoyed talks from photographer Roger Ballen and graphic designer Stefan Sagmeister at Alte Kongresshalle in Munich.
“The stupidest thing ever happened to beauty is: Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder”
At the Forward Festival for Creativity Design and Communication which took place from 14th to 15th June 2019 at the Alte Kongresshalle Munich Stefan Sagmeister Roger Ballen David Carson and many more gave insights about their work.
One of the highlights in Munich was definitely Stefan Sagmeister: The popular designer celebrates beauty as a function and basic human need. Sagmeister also told the creative crowd that sans serif fonts are a trend – just like skyscrapers. He asked the audience about the most beautiful color and form on the basis of a selection – everyone in the audience agreed on one – and so does every human being around the globe according to Sagmeister. His dedication to beauty led him to his exhibition <<Beauty>> which he showcases together with his professional partner Jessica Walsh. The exhibition can be admired at the Museum Angewandte Kunst Frankfurt.
“There is nothing wrong with no ideas. So what?”
The iconic photographer Roger Ballen shared his work, his impressions and his understanding of photography with the crowd. “It is easy to talk about the pictures, but it’s hard to take pictures that speak for themselves. I don’t want to talk about my pictures. I want them to talk for me.” His distinctive style of photography – in stark black and white – and his style of talking caught the audience during his speech. Ballen also invented a new hybrid aesthetic in his works which he calls <<Ballenesque>>.
Premiere of <<The Odd One Out>> by Raj Davsi from The Mill
Raj Davsi presented the premiere of his inhouse-produced film celebrating the power and strength in standing out from the crowd – following the 2019 festival motto: The Odd One Out. Unveiled at Forward Festival Munich the piece depicts three abstract worlds using immaculate CG to portray the truly distinct markings of a fiercely independent black panther. The art director not only premiered his latest work but also dived into the world of moving images with the crowd and gave some convenient insights.
Take a look at his outstanding masterpiece yourself:
The first day of Forward Festival Munich ended with the oddest speaker: Jim Stoten. London-based illustrator presented his artwork and finished his presentation with a song – the audience thanked him with a standing ovation.
Afterwards, the team behind Forward celebrated their 5th anniversary together with guests, speakers and friends at Alte Kongresshalle with music by Selam X.
The second day was filled with interesting talks from Gemma O’Brien, Kelli Anderson, McBess, and Stefan Sagmeister. After the last talk, the Forward community mingled at Blitz Club with DJ Hell.
In-between conferences and talks the attendants were able to explore the expo area with many interactive partner booths. Whether it was printing their own Forward t-shirt, grabbing beer coasters designed by the winners of the Bierdeckel competition at the Onlineprinters’ booth, protesting for more oddness in the world with Forward’s protest signs or admiring the winning posters of the fritz-kola competition in the hallway.
