fanfare and its display system was established in the Fall of 2014 with the aim of providing a supportive framework to independent design initiatives, especially those that explore and challenge contemporary modes of creative communication through cross-disciplinary collaboration. fanfare initially operated as a nomadic platform, moving from address to address in Amsterdam – in this context the fanfare display was developed. 

For the Open M Art Fair, the first outsourced fanfare display system, Sister Systems (姐妹系统) is presented. During the exhibition the display offers space as a bookshelf, reading station, charging station and DJ booth, all the while providing a cozy, almost-domestic setting for different activities throughout the day: relaxing, gathering, dancing and much more. 

Along with the launch of the Sister System, a specially produced publication and manual has been conceptualised and designed, including display insights, guidance, and a contract agreement, offering future users of the Sister System a support structure and reflection tool for future display settings and collaborations. 

Manual:

Throughout this manual, a conversation plays out between different avatars of the fanfare squad. These are drawn from two conversations, conducted ten years apart: the first, shorter conversation was between fanfare’s co-founders Freja Kir and Lotte van de Hoef. It took place shortly after the foundation of fanfare in 2014, at the moment of the creation of the fanfare display. In it, we offer some initial thoughts on the display and its potential future. The other is conducted together with three other fanfare colleagues: César Rogers, Charlie Clemoes and Miquel Hervás Gómez. The conversation took place shortly before sending this publication off for print. In it, we talk about the intentions of the Sister System, the personal and legal considerations behind sharing this design manual, and the developments of the display from its beginning ten years ago to this day.

Colophon

2024 Amsterdam - Beijing
The project was made for the occasion of Open M Art Fair in Chengdu (CN), in close collaboration with the abC team.

fanfare display design
Freja Kir, Lotte van de Hoef

Manual design
fanfare, Miquel Hervás Gómez, Fadi Houmani, César Rogers
Editorial: Freja kir, Charlie Clemoes

fanfare display 1st edition 2014
Handmade at the Gerrit Rietveld Academie
Wood Workshop NL
fanfare display 2nd edition 2016
Timmerfabriek Visser NL
fanfare display 3rd edition 2024
Teyu Exhibition, Beijing / 梦办OneiroSpace, Beijing CN 制作
fanfare display track of travels
2015, Graduation Show, Gerrit Rietveld Academie, Amsterdam NL
2016, Graphic Design Biennale, Brno CZ
2017, Graphic Design Festival Chaumont FR
2017, Signals from the Periphery, Tallinn Art Hall, Tallinn EE
2017, Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam NL
2018, It’s a Book, Leipzig DE
2020, Tokyo Virtual Art Book Fair, Tokyo JP
2022, Page not found, Den Hague NL
2022, Troef, Leiden NL
2024, Open M Art Fair, MEWS马厩·青年文化空间, Chengdu CN

The Sister System was made possible by the kind support of Amsterdam Fonds Voor De Kunst