TAFETA at TEFAF Maastricht 2022
Prize(s):
WINNER 2026 INTERIOR DESIGN / Commercial & Retail Interior
Company Name:Expand Design Ltd
Lead Designer(s) Name(s):Ifeanyi Oganwu
Interior Designer:Expand Design Ltd
Construction Company:Stabilo International B.V.
Lighting Design:Expand Design Ltd
Client Name:TAFETA Gallery
Photo Credit:GRAYSC
Project Location:Maastricht, Netherlands
Design Status:Completed
Website: View
Project Description:
London-based TAFETA Gallery is one of a handful of contemporary African art galleries with consistent participation at TEFAF Maastricht. For the 2022 edition, a notable event marking the post-pandemic cycle with 242 exhibitors and over 50,000 visitors across an 8-day period, the studio created a 40sqm booth that complemented the high-quality works on show. The works comprised a curated selection including sculpture, installation, and works on paper by emerging and established artists including Yinka Shonibare CBE, Nkechi Ebubedike, Babajide Olatunji, Ibrahim El-Salahi, Ouattara Watts, Victor Ekpuk and others. The studio helped the gallery to realise a booth design that enhanced the visitor experience of the curated showcase, centred on African creative practice, and advancing the presentation of African art outside of a white cube model for our time - modularity and reusability being key ingredients.
London-based TAFETA Gallery is one of a handful of contemporary African art galleries with consistent participation at TEFAF Maastricht. For the 2022 edition, a notable event marking the post-pandemic cycle with 242 exhibitors and over 50,000 visitors across an 8-day period, the studio created a 40sqm booth that complemented the high-quality works on show. The works comprised a curated selection including sculpture, installation, and works on paper by emerging and established artists including Yinka Shonibare CBE, Nkechi Ebubedike, Babajide Olatunji, Ibrahim El-Salahi, Ouattara Watts, Victor Ekpuk and others. The studio helped the gallery to realise a booth design that enhanced the visitor experience of the curated showcase, centred on African creative practice, and advancing the presentation of African art outside of a white cube model for our time - modularity and reusability being key ingredients.
Project Innovation / Specification:
As the fair is notable for having a high number of 'museum grade' booth presentations, a well-thought-out booth design was key to delivering a successful presentation. In addition to a layout that encouraged visitors to have a reflective engagement with artworks within the 40-square-metre footprint, the proposal utilised sustainable lighting and display design. Adopting reusable materials to design bespoke furniture, a floating feature wall, as well as to create a welcoming environment for art lovers. The feature wall split the space into distinct sightlines, slowing visitors down and pulling them through the works. Thus, the outcome had a more curatorial approach.
As the fair is notable for having a high number of 'museum grade' booth presentations, a well-thought-out booth design was key to delivering a successful presentation. In addition to a layout that encouraged visitors to have a reflective engagement with artworks within the 40-square-metre footprint, the proposal utilised sustainable lighting and display design. Adopting reusable materials to design bespoke furniture, a floating feature wall, as well as to create a welcoming environment for art lovers. The feature wall split the space into distinct sightlines, slowing visitors down and pulling them through the works. Thus, the outcome had a more curatorial approach.
Project Sustainability Approach:
The booth had a temporary purpose, so at the onset, there was commitment to reduce its environmental impact. The exhibition design significantly employs reusable components, that go beyond furnishing and display supports. Digital fabrication is also utilised to reduce offcuts and thus waste. In order to achieve the sustainability goals of the project, we adopted modular parts that are easy to transport, easy to disassemble, lightweight and multifunctional for prospective use on other projects by the lead contractor who specialise in stand design. Materials for the project are chosen for their ability to be sourced locally, for example using reclaimed wood and non-toxic paints and finishes. During the fair, LED lighting systems are used to enhance the operational sustainability of the stand. (The fair already reports using an average of 40% less energy in comparison to 2019). After the exhibition, the stand was carefully dismantled and transported to contractor’s warehouse for inspection and storage for future use. This project treats temporality not as disposability, but as an opportunity to design for adaptable and responsive material stewardship.
The booth had a temporary purpose, so at the onset, there was commitment to reduce its environmental impact. The exhibition design significantly employs reusable components, that go beyond furnishing and display supports. Digital fabrication is also utilised to reduce offcuts and thus waste. In order to achieve the sustainability goals of the project, we adopted modular parts that are easy to transport, easy to disassemble, lightweight and multifunctional for prospective use on other projects by the lead contractor who specialise in stand design. Materials for the project are chosen for their ability to be sourced locally, for example using reclaimed wood and non-toxic paints and finishes. During the fair, LED lighting systems are used to enhance the operational sustainability of the stand. (The fair already reports using an average of 40% less energy in comparison to 2019). After the exhibition, the stand was carefully dismantled and transported to contractor’s warehouse for inspection and storage for future use. This project treats temporality not as disposability, but as an opportunity to design for adaptable and responsive material stewardship.
Local and Regional Impacts of the Project:
TEFAF generates an estimated 100 to 250 tonnes of waste per edition. This project responded with a recycling strategy for unavoidable waste; material repurposing, local sourcing; fair labour practices with production; and accessible design. But its most lasting impact is cultural. The design proposal created a focal point for the exchange of ideas to advance discourse on contemporary African art that remains underrepresented at the top tier of the art market. For 8 days, the space was front and centre for enthusiasts, collectors, curators, museum professionals. The unique approach has since been carried forward by TAFETA into subsequent TEFAF editions, establishing a repeatable model for showing contemporary African art at the world’s leading fair, rather than a singular intervention.
TEFAF generates an estimated 100 to 250 tonnes of waste per edition. This project responded with a recycling strategy for unavoidable waste; material repurposing, local sourcing; fair labour practices with production; and accessible design. But its most lasting impact is cultural. The design proposal created a focal point for the exchange of ideas to advance discourse on contemporary African art that remains underrepresented at the top tier of the art market. For 8 days, the space was front and centre for enthusiasts, collectors, curators, museum professionals. The unique approach has since been carried forward by TAFETA into subsequent TEFAF editions, establishing a repeatable model for showing contemporary African art at the world’s leading fair, rather than a singular intervention.
Company Name:Expand Design Ltd
Lead Designer(s) Name(s):Ifeanyi Oganwu
