5 MINUTES WITH: kata bayer
PHOTOGRAPHER KATA BAYER EXPLAINS HOW THE AMALGAMATION OF HER HUNGARIAN CHILDHOOD AND AUSSIE LIVING HAS SHAPED HER ART AND HER LIFE
How did Kata Official come to be?
After finishing my degree in fine art photography at RMIT University in Melbourne, and working as a commercial photographer and designer for many years, I eventually felt compelled to embark on a new journey and pull all my knowledge and experience into one venture, with a strong focus on eco-friendly materials and processes.
How would you describe the aesthetic?
It’s very much shaped by my experiences as a child. My father worked in Scandinavia for many years so Marimekko textiles, Iittala glassware and Svenskt Tenn products were everyday items in our household.
Who are some of your favourite designers and artists?
It’s a very long list, but if I really have to choose, my favourites are Stefan Sagmeister, Bjarke Ingels, Tadao Ando and Isabel Marant. They work in various fields of design but are equally inspiring for different reasons, with one thing in common – they have their own unique vision and it’s strongly expressed in the work they produce.
A furniture item or homeware you couldn’t live without, and why?
My favourite piece of furniture is the Aalto dining table, designed in the 1930s by Finnish designer Alvar Aalto. We have the round and the rectangular versions and these tabletops have witnessed many happy family dinners, passionate discussions and big life decisions. They have been burnt by sparklers, scratched by our puppy’s nails and soaked by the gelato dripping off the tiny hands of toddlers. These are the marks of our life and I hope to pass these onto my son to use in his own family home one day. Good design lasts several lifetimes.
Trend or timeless?
Hmmm… can I say a bit of both? Creating something timeless is every designer’s ultimate goal, but every now and then, a trend emerges that makes your heart sing. I don’t see anything wrong with embracing it in small doses. Visit kata-official.com.au.