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UNNO Gallery presents its first collaboration with renowned designer Mark Grattan, debuting THICK at Milan Design Week 2024. Grattan, celebrated for his distinctive design, with his last work reveals a deep connection with Mexico and Latin American culture.
The collection's genesis lies in a long-time desire to collaborate with the gallery and a simple promise. The inspiration for the furniture design stemmed from a small wall-mounted cabinet Grattan designed and built for his NYC apartment, sparking the conceptual evolution of the entire collection.
Grattan introduces an unexpected playful and animated aesthetic, deviating from his usual serious and rigid methodology in his past work. The pieces feature a unique visual elasticity of stretching forms, simple, but compelling, yet still maintaining his signature details such as repetition, rounded edge profiles and chrome details. The overall outline of the work introduces a new dimension, characterised by a cheerful and lively quality.
The collection, meticulously crafted in the furniture designer's New York studio, showcases Grattan's innovative hands-on execution of curved wood forms and complex joinery. The resulting forms are high gloss lacquered, presenting a monolithic yet organic appearance.
"This collection is not just about design; it's a story about the simple ritual of putting things away after use, the habitual practice and skillset of organisation and how it promotes mental clarity," shares Grattan.
Grattan shares a profound connection with Latin America, particularly Mexico, where he learned to be authenticated in his creativity and honed his artistic expression. The country taught him invaluable lessons in humility, patience and resilience.
"This collaboration is more than a union of artistic minds; it's a celebration of shared visions, cultural understanding, and the belief in the power of design to transcend boundaries and create meaningful connections," share Maria Dolores Uribe and Laura Abe Vettoretti, co-founders of UNNO Gallery.
Stay tuned with STIR's coverage of Milan Design Week 2024 which showcases the best of exhibitions, studios, designers, installations, brands and events to look out for. Explore EuroCucina and all the design districts—Fuorisalone, 5vie Design Week, Isola Design Week, Brera Design District and Porta Venezia Design District.
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