Talk Auditorium
An Afternoon with Yinka Ilori and Tim Marlow
To mark ten years of the Design Museum in Kensington, join artist and designers Yinka Ilori for a special conversation exploring how design can tell stories, express identity and bring people together.
Drawing on his British-Nigerian heritage and the storytelling traditions that have shaped his practice, Yinka Ilori transforms everyday objects and spaces into vibrant expressions of memory and culture. His new book, Chairman, looks at the chair as more than a functional object, exploring its potential to hold personal histories, identity and the rituals through which we gather, connect and belong.
In conversation with Tim Marlow, Ilori will reflect on the stories behind his work, from reimagining discarded furniture through colour and pattern to creating installations and public spaces that invite people to see and use their surroundings differently. They will explore how objects carry meaning, how cultural histories shape design, and how creativity can challenge conventions.
This event is wheelchair accessible, with step-free access throughout the museum.
Speakers
Yinka is a British-Nigerian artist, designer and founder whose bold visual language draws on his dual heritage to convey new narratives through contemporary design. Humorous, provocative and playful, his projects demonstrate how design can bring together communities, reimagine spaces, and have a positive impact on society, while evoking a sense of joy and optimism.
Tim is Chief Executive, Director of the Design Museum. Formerly Artistic Director of the Royal Academy of Arts and Director of Exhibitions at White Cube. Tim sits on the Board of Trustees for the Imperial War Museum was awarded an OBE in 2019. Marlow has been involved in the contemporary art world as a curator, writer and broadcaster and has worked with some of the most important artists of our time to deliver a range programmes to bring a commitment to diverse exhibitions.
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