For the occasion, the Barcelona-based homeware label invited 10 artists to interpret its popular Paper Vase using the symbols, materials and rich colour palette of the Mediterranean
Photography by Martina Orska and courtesy of Ocatevo and Partida Continua
The Mediterranean is a place of sun, sand and sea. Drawing on the region’s vivid colours and ancient philosophy, the Spanish homeware brand Octaevo has spent the last decade creating Mediterranean-inspired designs from their creative studio in Spain.
Founded in 2013 by Swiss-born Marcel Baer, Octaevo has, from the start, embraced a design language that is all about abundance and instantly recognisable: elegant, playful and original. From its base in Barcelona, the studio has championed a design ethos that is rooted in place yet open to the world.
This year, the brand is celebrating its tenth anniversary with a vibrant exhibition. Held at La Culture House, a multidisciplinary platform on Carrer de Bailèn, In the Middle of Lands brings together ten artists, each invited to interpret Octaevo’s now-iconic Paper Vase.
Photography by Martina Orska and courtesy of Ocatevo and Partida Continua featuring El Abrazo by Plutarco Studio
Made from durable and waterproof paper, Octaevo’s handcrafted paper vases pay tribute to ancient ceramics. From the Miró Paper Vase, realised with the Joan Miró Foundation and sewn by hand, to the 60s-inspired Riviera Paper Vases, each piece is made to brighten up our everyday.
The result is a striking visual and tactile exhibit – ten pieces, ten voices, ten stories – each drawing inspiration from the Mediterranean as myth, memory, material and muse. Artists including Valeria Vasi, Mariano Pascual and Clara Cebrián have added their twist to these popular vases.
With layers of colour, texture and symbol to evoke everything from the shifting hues of coastal sunsets to the traces of ancient ceramics, each object tells a story and is made to be held close. Placed in thoughtful dialogue, the vases create a spatial narrative that aims to mirror a cartography of the sea.
Photography by Martina Orska and courtesy of Ocatevo and Partida Continua featuring Las Cabezas by Sol Pardo
There is Sophia Pega’s Whistled A Hymn And They Sank, A Song To Mother-Of-Pearl, a softly coloured piece whose strokes and colours evoke maritime movement. Then, Marta Pazos’ Galician surrealism in Buoy, a bold yellow vase, which examines the relationship between human intervention and nature.
Sol Pardo uses raffia and acrylic wool to create Las Cabezas, a tribute to Italian folklore and its influence throughout the region, while Plutarco Studio explores the concept of ‘the embrace’ as a symbolic identity of the Mediterranean with El Abrazo.
Other pieces include Action 227 by Raquel Quevedo, which incorporates materials like resin and cobalt to create a beautiful piece that finds its design cues in the organic and inorganic forms of life that inhabit the Mediterranean Sea.
Photography by Martina Orska and courtesy of Ocatevo and Partida Continua featuring Glaucus Vase by Nienke Klunder and Wiglius Bie (KlunderBie)
Showcasing how forms and ideas evolve over time, this exhibition beautifully demonstrates the daily rituals and beauty of the Mediterranean. In the Middle of Lands invites us to consider how craft can articulate culture and how a simple shape – folded paper or a curved line – can tell a story.
Each piece considers the brand philosophy of Octaevo, which centres around creating objects and collections that prioritise high-quality materials and sustainable practices to connect with people and spark joy in our daily lives.
Producing timeless and contemporary pieces, Octaevo’s work is a modern take on lasting Mediterranean traditions. As the brand enters its second decade, one senses that Octaevo’s journey is only just beginning. We’re keeping our eyes peeled.
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