Every now and again, a rare wonderful opportunity
presents itself – and there is really no other
option but to take it and feel well pleased.
Such was my response to attending
an interview with the
world renown and celebrated designer/architect
Gaetano Pesce.
…
Held at the famed Barbican Centre, London
with Tony Chambers, editor-in-chief of Wallpaper magazine
who spoke wtih Signor Pesce about
his designs and his design philosophy.
…
Signor Pesce was born and educated in Italy.
(image from padovacultura.padovanet.it):

He has been a force in the design world for over forty years –
his work is on permanent display at many of the world’s
leading museums: the Victoria and Albert Museum, London and
Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), New York to cite but a couple.
…
I am intrigued by the Gaetano Pesce piece
La Mamma/Donna armchair and footrest, 1969 –
currently on display at the exhibition
Pop Art Design
Barbican Art Gallery, London.
…
(image from barbican.co.uk):

La Mamma/Donna armchair and footrest by Gaetano Pesce
…
The large foam chair envelopes the body,
offering a sense of security, a feel of comfort –
with deep curves and deep-set seat,
an invitation to stroke and to nestle:
a chair meant to be reminiscent of
women’s nurturing qualities.
…
Attached by a thin chord to the chair is the footrest:
a ball constructed of the same material and colour
symbolises a state of imprisonment (ball and chain):
a state of unwilling captivity.
…
La Mamma/Donna is a chair which conjures up
imagery of women who at the time (1960s),
seemed doomed to be soley anchored in the home.
…
In contemplating the message(s) of this specific chair/footrest,
I often wondered about the general design mission of
Gaetano Pecse.
The evening at the Barbican afforded me the occasion
to discover more about the man and his creations.
…
Gaetano Pesce is a most witty, personable and engaging speaker.
As Tony Chambers relaxed into a Mamma/Donna chair
Signor Pesce settled into another of his designs
-high backed chair,
which looked equally comfortable.
The comfort factor seems priority in a Pesce piece.
…
The Mamma/Donna chair is exemplar of the Pesce
definition of furniture musts:
“fun, strong, and with a message.”
The intended statement for the Mamma/Donna chair:
“women’s non-freedom.”
Many of Signor Pesce’s pieces offer
strong socio-political points.
…
The chair is delivered ‘flat packed’.
As it is made entirely of foam, it is relatively easy to
squeeze it into a compact container.
Upon opening, it springs into shape –
no assembly required.
…
Signor Pesce spoke passionately on art as innovation:
use of new materials, techniques, technology –
“there is no limit for creativity” ,
each design is an unique individual, hence
design possibilities are infinite.
…
He is spirited in encouraging creatives to
“fight the idea of standardisation” and to
“express life, express diversity”
…
During his tenure as lecturer at Cooper Union, NY
he challenged his students to first create – concept,
then, as natural sequence – shape.
Concept is “psychological and sentiments”;
it is the fusing of the intellectual and
the emotional as integral to the design process.
Once this is satisfied, the shape of the piece can evolve –
as definition of the concept.
…
Signor Pesce expressed his views on duality in design.
He believes objects have a “double function”:
“the practical and the beautiful”
I was reminded of the intended use of
Renaissance Italian majolica (glazed ceramic-ware)
beautifully crafted/decorated utilitarian pieces.
…
(image from metmuseum.org):

pharmacy jar (1515) – Siena, Italy
…
Examples of Signor Pesce’s idea of design duality:
-beautiful/functional –
are his six water tables.
The tables tops showcase various bodies of water:
lakes, lagoon, ponds, oceans, rivers … puddles
The realism of imagery is almost extra-dimensional:
positioning a viewer in a space perspective
of experiencing a surreal mini-world
while remaining in the world actually occupied.
…
(images from design boom):
river table

…
pond table

…
lagoon table

…
puddle table

…
lake table

…
ocean table

…
Customisation is another detected point on the Pesce design radar.
In 2010, he created the Fontessa shoe.
…
(image from vogue.it):

the Fontessa shoe
…
The Fontessa shoe is made of plastic discs, which the user
can cut out and arrange to personalise the footwear.
This design approach allows for a
“relationship with the product” – an intimacy.
…
On the topic of architectural structures, Signor Pesce laments.
He suggests sadly, that some modern structures
are simply “real estate”; just “buildings, not architecture” .
Signor Pesce defines architecture in one word: “innovation”
anything else is simply a building, a copy of what’s been done.
…
While animatedly chatting, reminiscing, informing, laughing –
his phone rings.
Does he ignore it?
Does he answer it?
You guessed it!
He stops mid-sentence, checks the caller id and speaks –
“Pronto, yes, yes … I’ll call you later. I have a lot of
people in front of me.”
Everyone smiled, many laughed aloud in good humour
and he simply continued where he left off.
…
Gaetano Pesce’s designs are in his image:
amusing, inventive, functional, progressive,
warm, engaging, contemplative:
the man is his art
his art is the man.
…
View the Mamma/Donna chair and footstool
by Gaetano Pesce
at the exhibition: Pop Art Design
until 9 February 2014
Barbican Art Gallery, London
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