Wattis Institute

The Way Beyond Art: Sunny Memories

16 - 24 Apr 2010

© Diana Chang
Flaoting Chair
California College of the Arts (CCA).
THE WAY BEYOND ART: SUNNY MEMORIES

Upper Gallery | Apr. 16–24, 2010

The first project to be presented as part of The Way Beyond Art will be the exhibition Sunny Memories, developed by Lausanne, Switzerland's EPFL+ECAL Lab in collaboration with CCA's renowned Industrial Design program. Initiated by EPFL+ECAL Lab, the Sunny Memories international design workshop offers a groundbreaking vision of solar energy that is based on a new dye solar cell invented at the Ecole polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL). Taking its inspiration from photosynthesis in plants, this pioneering technology harnesses solar energy with flexible, colored and even see-through surfaces.
Four internationally renowned design schools have explored this technology's potential to renew our relationship with energy and light: California College of the Arts (CCA), the Royal College of Art in London (RCA), the University of art and design Lausanne (ECAL) and the Ecole nationale supérieure de création industrielle in Paris (ENSCI).
Over 80 students shared their vision of the future of solar energy under the guidance of top-level designers: Yves Behar, Rick Lewis, Brian Gulassa, Christoph Behling, Durell Bishop, Sam Hecht, Andreé Klauser, Jörg Boner, and Jean-François Dingjian.
The project highlights the activities of the EPFL+ECAL Lab, a new unit of the EPFL in cooperation with ECAL. Its mission is to foster innovation at a crossroads between technology, design, and architecture.
The Sunny Memories international design workshop and exhibition is initiated by EPFL+ECAL Lab with the support of Lombard Odier Private Bankers, swissnex San Francisco, and the Swiss Arts Council, Pro Helvetia.
Founding support for CCA Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts programs has been provided by Phyllis C. Wattis and Judy and Bill Timken. Generous support provided by the Phyllis C. Wattis Foundation, Grants for the Arts / San Francisco Hotel Tax Fund, Ann Hatch and Paul Discoe, and the CCA Curator's Forum.