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The Miami Design District, in collaboration with Design Miami Curatorial Lab, recently announced award-winning designer Nicole Nomsa Moyo as the winner of the 2024 Annual Design Commission.
Marking its 10th edition, this year’s Design Commission, titled Pearl Jam, will debut throughout the neighborhood in time for Miami Art Week, with additional displays at the entrance of the 20th edition of Design Miami’s flagship Miami Beach fair. Created in collaboration with Design Miami’s Curatorial Lab, Pearl Jam will captivate Miami Design District visitors well into the new year.
Born in Zimbabwe, raised in South Africa, and now based in Toronto, Nicole is a polymath whose diverse portfolio of work has garnered international acclaim over the past decade.
Moyo’s Pearl Jam is a vibrant tribute to the Southern African Ndebele tribe’s intricate patterns and bold colors, echoing a universal language of creativity and identity that transcends cultural boundaries.
The installation features four interactive jewelry themed experiences placed throughout the Miami Design District, including giant pearls, a deconstructable necklace, a sprawling bracelet, a cluster of pearls tree and radiant earrings dangling elegantly from the trees.
These vibrant, geometric shapes invite visitors to engage with the art, weaving tradition into the neighborhood’s dynamic fabric.
“Pearl Jam came from within. I reflected on the rich tapestry of my cultural heritage, merging it with contemporary design to create a narrative that both honors and transforms tradition,” Moyo said. “It is an expression of how deeply personal experiences and historical influences can converge to craft a new, resonant story that bridges past inspirations with present innovation. The Ndebele tribe’s vibrant aesthetic, with its intricate patterns and bold colors, connects with cultures worldwide, echoing the universal language of creativity and identity.”
Pearl Jam is intentionally an intersection between tradition and modernity. The larger “pearls” are industrially fabricated out of sustainable materials that contribute to the safety and longevity of the project. The “earnings,” which exemplify fine jewelry, are meticulously handcrafted, honoring the value of exceptional human skill and artistry. Pearl Jam reflects the unique heritage of deep rooted African culture and the shared threads that bind diverse communities across the globe.
At the heart of Pearl Jam is the artistry of indigenous Ndebele women from Southern Africa, who will handcraft over 1,000 “earrings” using locally sourced materials and weaving elaborate designs and vivid hues into every pearl. These pieces embody the extraordinary talent of their makers. From Southern Africa to the Miami Design District, each earring carries a story of empowerment, connecting diverse cultures through the timeless beauty of human expression
“When selecting this year’s winner, we were committed to celebrating a designer who spoke to the Miami Design District Commission’s global outlook,” said Grela Orihuela, senior vice president of Fairs, Design Miami. “We’re thrilled to be collaborating with Nicole Moyo whose work with Ndebele women of all ages offers a unique opportunity to preserve and share their skillfully sustainably creative practice with audiences from around the world. Moyo’s deeply thoughtful and inventive work beautifully interprets their generations-old craft traditions in a distinctly contemporary context.”
Each winter, the Miami Design District extends a special invitation to an imaginative creative to breathe new life into the neighborhood’s landscape. Intertwining with Miami Design District’s pathways, the intriguing public installations become a living thread, engaging with the local trees, architecture, and walkways to create a unique experience for visitors. This lively addition injects a surge of energy into the community precisely when it’s most bustling – premiering amidst Miami Art Week and extending into the new year.
“The Miami Design District’s Annual Design Commission has grown into a vibrant tradition that continues to elevate our community and strengthen Miami’s ever-evolving art scene,” said Craig Robins, President and CEO of DACRA. “We are thrilled to celebrate this 10th edition with Nicole Nomsa Moyo’s visionary installation, which beautifully intertwines creativity, culture, and innovation.”
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